Cats look to make amends: Hurling previews
All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny had a wake-up call following their defeat to Clare last weekend and will be keen to make amends in their National Hurling League Division 1A clash against Dublin at Parnell Park today.
The loss of All Star forward Henry Shefflin is having a negative effect but manager Brian Cody will be boosted by the return of his James Stephens contingent.
Dublin manager Humphrey Kelliher has made one change for the clash with the Cats.
Jonathan Kingston, who was selected against Laois but did not start, is named at top of the left with Alan McCrabbe dropping to the bench.
Laois boss Paudie Butler has kept faith with the side that defeated the Dubs last time out as his side host Galway in Portlaoise today.
Last weekend's win over the Dubliners was the first for the men from the O'Moore County in this campaign, following defeats by Clare and Kilkenny.
Robert Jones and Liam Tynan, who scored the crucial goals last week, are included in the attack.
Galway welcome back their Athenry players for today's clash.
In Division 1B, Adare goalkeeper Timmy Houlihan returns to the Limerick side after an absence of more than two years, as the Shannonsiders host Antrim at the Gaelic Grounds.
Houlihan replaces former Clare netminder Ger O'Connell between the sticks.
Manager Joe McKenna makes two other changes from the side that lost narrowly to Wexford last weekend.
David Breen is called in at half-back instead of Mark Foley and Kieran O'Dwyer takes over from Pat Tobin at top of the left.
Dinny Cahill has delayed naming his Antrim side until today - his team were on the receiving end of a 29-point hammering by Tipperary at Casement Park last weekend.
Cork hurling manager John Allen has made several changes from the side that disposed of Down last time out for today's visit to Semple Stadium to face Tipperary in the National Hurling League.
Skipper Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (flu) and Brian Corcoran (groin) both miss the contest.
Donal Óg Cusack returns in goal and Diarmuid O'Sullivan is named at full-back. Cian O'Connor moves to the left corner to accommodate O'Sullivan, while netminder Martin Coleman drops to the bench.
John Gardiner, Ronan Curran and Graham Callinan make up with half-back line and Tom Kenny and Jerry O'Connor resume their partnership at midfield.
Timmy McCarthy returns at centre-forward, while Jonathan O'Callaghan replaces James Bowles at top of the right, with Kieran Murphy going to full-forward to deputise for Corcoran.
Tipperary boss Ken Hogan has kept faith with the team that crushed Antrim last weekend for today's clash.
The Premier County destroyed the northerners last weekend on a scoreline of 6-21 to 0-10.
Goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, defender Eamon Corcoran and All Star attacker Eoin Kelly, who were all substituted during last weekend's win, are named in the side.
Cork have full points from their outings and a win for Tipp would secure them a place in the next phase.
DUBLIN (SH v Kilkenny): G Maguire; C Billings, T Russell, S O’Shea; K Elliott, S Daly, G Bennett; G O’Meara, C Meehan; D Curtin, S Hiney, F Chambers; E Carroll, M Breathnach, J Kingston.
LAOIS (SH v Galway): P Mullaney; B Campion, P Cuddy, M McEvoy; J Fitzpatrick, S Dwyer, P Mahon; J Young, J Walsh; C Coonan, J Rowney, L Tynan; R Jones, M Rooney, D Culleton.
LIMERICK (SH v Antrim): T Houlihan; D Reale, B Geary, M Cahill; P O'Dwyer, O Moran, D Breen; P O'Grady, D O'Grady; A O'Connor, J O'Brien, N Moran; A O'Shaughnessy, S O'Connor, K O'Dwyer.
CORK (SH v Tipperary): D Óg Cusack; J Browne, D O'Sullivan, C O'Connor; J Gardiner, R Curran, G Callinan; T Kenny, J O'Connor; G McCarthy, T McCarthy, N Ronan; J O'Callaghan, K Murphy, J Deane.
TIPPERARY (SH v Cork): B Cummins; P Curran, P Maher, H Moloney; D Fanning, D Kennedy, E Corcoran; B Dunne, T King; M O'Leary, F Devanney, J Devane; E Kelly, M Webster, P O'Brien.
