New faces to Tipp football squad
Twelve are in the 40-man squad for the first time with Upperchurch/Drombane midfielder Paul Shanahan returning having been part of Kearns first senior panel for the league in 2016 before having a brief spell with the senior hurlers in 2018.
His inclusion off-sets the loss of the retired George Hannigan who is one of nine players not returning to the panel, along with Ian Fahey, Sean Carey, Liam Treacy, Brendan Martin, Jody Sheehan, Liam Ryan, Shane Leahy and Stephen Murray.
Despite Hannigan's retirement, the North Tipp contingent on the panel has risen to five with the inclusion of Kiladangan's Dan O'Meara and Newport's Jack Delahunty, who were both part of the Tipp under 20 panel in 2018, joining Kevin O'Halloran and Philip Austin, the latter facing into his 14th championship season.
Delahunty is one of six players from the 2015 minor squad that reached the All Ireland final to be drafted in along with Ben Hyland, Tommy Lowry, Gavin Whelan and most notably Paudie Feehan & Paul Maher who were part of the Tipperary senior hurling panel in the past year, but are also excellent footballers too.
To read more, pick up a copy of this weeks Nenagh Guardian locally or subscribe to our e-paper to access it online each Wednesday.