Tipperary team named for league opener against Laois

The Tipperary Senior Hurlers commence their Allianz Hurling League campaign this Saturday with an away tie against Laois in Portlaoise at 6pm. Tipperary manager Colm Bonnar will be looking for a winning start to what will be his first National Hurling League as the Premier boss.

After what has been a sad week for all Tipperary supporters, the players who take to the field on Saturday evening will be aiming to put a smile back on the faces of the blue and gold faithful and set the tone for the remainder of 2022.

There have been 35 previous meetings between Tipperary and Laois. The Premier County won 26, drew three and lost six of these games. The most recent Laois victory was achieved in Thurles, on October 25th, 1986, when they won by 3-15 to 3-7.

The last six meetings resulted as follows - 1998 at Portlaoise, Tipperary 1-13 Laois 1-13; 1999 at Portlaoise, Tipperary 2-16 Laois 1-7; 2000 at FBD Semple Stadium, Tipperary 5-25 Laois 0-18; 2001 at Portlaoise, Tipperary 1-16 Laois 0-13; 2006 at Portlaoise, Tipperary 4-17 Laois 0-12; 2008 at Cashel, Tipperary 4-17 Laois 1-12.The Tipperary Team and subs for Saturday's game is: Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha); Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill), James Quigley (Kiladangan), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary's), Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg); Alan Flynn (Kiladangan), Michael Breen (Ballina); Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Jason Forde (Silvermines), Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormacs); Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Denis Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg).

Subs. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Robert Byrne (Portroe), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens), Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch), Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Paul Flynn (Kiladangan), Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Gearoid O'Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).