Justin Cahill

Nine new faces in Tipp hurling panel

Tipperary Senior Hurling manager Michael Ryan has named a 40 man pre-season training panel as preparations for the 2018 season step up a notch.

Nine new faces have been included while there is also a recall for All Star defender Cathal Barrett who was dropped midway through last years campaign for disciplinary reasons.

Of the new faces, two are from Kilruane MacDonaghs in the form of Justin Cahill and Cian Darcy. Cahill has previously played minor and under 21 for the county at midfield while Darcy, who won a minor All Ireland in 2016 would add a pacey attacking option. It brings to three the number of players from that All Ireland winning squad now on board with Ger Browne and Mark Kehoe drafted in during the middle of last summer.

The other newcomers include defenders David Sweeney, Paul Maher (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), midfielder Seanie Nally, and attackers Paudie Feehan, Mark Russell and Paul Shanahan who are all over six foot as Michael Ryan looks to find some bigger players to add a different option to his attack. There is also a recall for Borris-Ileigh's Conor Kenny who has been rewarded for his excellent club campaign this season as he looks to impressive Michael Ryan for a second time having been dropped from the panel prior to the 2016 championship.

Following the retirement of goalkeeper Darren Gleeson, Daragh Mooney, Brian Hogan and Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy) will vie for the number one jersey. John O'Keeffe has also retired from inter-county hurling while Steven O'Brien and John Meagher have departed the panel to join up with the senior footballers. Aidan McCormack, Sean Ryan and Kiladangan's Paul Flynn have also been let go from the panel who will return to training in December with a number of challenge games already lined up ahead of the earlier start to the National League on January 28th next when they travel to play Clare.

Tipperary Senior Hurling training panel: Michael Breen (Ballina); Conor Kenny, Brendan Maher, Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh); Donagh Maher (Burgess); Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch); Tom Fox, Daragh Mooney (Éire Óg Annacarty); Cathal Barrett, Seanie Nally (Holycross/Ballycahill); Alan Flynn, David Sweeney (Kiladangan); Paudie Feehan, Joe O'Dwyer, John O'Dwyer (Killenaule); Justin Cahill, Cian Darcy, Niall O'Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Mark Kehoe, Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Ger Browne (Knockavilla Kickhams); Mark Russell (Lattin-Cullen); Brian Hogan, Patrick Maher (Lorrha); John McGrath, Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Tomás Hamill, Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy); Sean Curran (Mullinahone); Barry Heffernan, Daire Quinn (Nenagh Eire Og); Sean O’Brien (Newport); Jason Forde (Silvermines); Seamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel); Michael Cahill, Padraig Maher, Ronan Maher, Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields); James Barry, Paul Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane).