Barry Nash ruled out of Limerick’s mouth-watering All-Ireland semi-final clash with Cork

As reported on Independent.ie earlier this week, the two-time All-Star corner-back sustained a hamstring injury in training recently which sees him miss the last four clash with the Rebels.

John Kiely has an esteemed replacement, however, with four-time All-Star Seán Finn coming into the Treaty side in one of two changes from their Munster final win against Clare a month ago.

The other sees Séamus Flanagan, who missed the provincial final with a hamstring injury, replace young gun Shane O’Brien up front as Limerick bid to move one step closer to completing the ‘drive for five’.

Flanagan hit 3-3 from play when Limerick faced the Rebels earlier in the championship (a game which Cork won) and Kiely, as is his wont, has gone with the tried and trusted formula once again.

There is no place in the Limerick starting 15 for Darragh O’Donovan with the two-time midfielder once again kept in reserve having not featured in competitive action since February 24 due to a calf injury.

Ryan Taylor is in line to make his first appearance for Clare in 12 months having been named in the Banner’s match-day squad to face Kilkenny in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final.

Taylor limped off in the corresponding fixture 12 months ago before it was later revealed that the Clooney-Quin speedster had suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury.

It has been a long road back for Taylor, but he could feature for Brian Lohan’s side as they bid to make it third-time lucky in the last four against the Cats.

Lohan has made one change to his starting 15 from their quarter-final victory over Wexford with Aidan McCarthy named in place of Aron Shanagher in attack.

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Whether that’s the case at throw-in tomorrow remains to be seen, though, with Shanagher impressing against the Model men last time out.

Elsewhere, Derek Lyng has named the same Kilkenny starting 15 that coasted to a comprehensive Leinster SHC final victory ahead of tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi-final clash with Clare.

The Cats were in scintillating form when last seen a month ago, although there were injury concerns about Mikey Carey heading into the Banner clash after he was removed before half-time in their 16-point win over Dublin.

The Young Irelands defender is deemed fit to start once again, though, in a strong Kilkenny side as they bid to make it a hat-trick of semi-final victories over Brian Lohan’s side.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, M Carey; C Kenny, P Deegan; A Mullen, TJ Reid, J Donnelly; M Keoghan, B Ryan, E Cody.

LIMERICK (SH v Cork): N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, M Casey; D Byrnes, D Hannon, K Hayes; W O’Donoghue, C O’Neill; G Hegarty, C Lynch, T Morrissey; A Gillane, S Flanagan, D Reidy.

CLARE (SH v Kilkenny): E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary, C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, D McInerney; D Fitzgerald, C Malone; T Kelly, M Rodgers, P Duggan; A McCarthy, S O’Donnell, D Reidy.