All-Ireland champions Kilkenny have made two changes for Sunday's do-or-die hurling qualifier against Galway at Thurles. James Ryall is named at corner back for the injured Mark Phelan, while Conor Phelan is also introduced to the forward line as an indirect swap for Aidan Fogarty.
Manager Brian Cody was hoping to pick from a fully fit squad, but it was revealed yesterday that Mark Phelan will now require surgery on a thumb tendon injury, to be carried out later today, and is likely to be ruled out of action for six weeks.
Phelan started at right corner back in the first-round qualifier against Dublin last Sunday week, but his place now goes to the experienced Ryall, a member of last year's starting line-up in the All-Ireland win over Cork.
The Graigue-Ballycallan man in fact appeared as a second-half substitute in the Dublin game, which Kilkenny won by 26 points, then replacing Peter Barry. Like last Sunday week, the roaming Tommy Walsh has again been named at left-corner back.
Fogarty moves down to the substitutes bench to make way for Conor Phelan, who also appeared in the latter stages of the Dublin game, and likewise appeared in the later stages of last year's All-Ireland final.
Tipperary have delayed the naming of their team for the equally anticipated hurling qualifier against Cork in Killarney this Saturday. With three panel members in action in last night's under-21 semi-final against Limerick, which Tipperary comfortably won, manager Ken Hogan deferred a final selection last night.
In football,Wexford have been boosted by the return of Colm Morris for Saturday evening's All-Ireland senior football qualifier with Offaly in Wexford Park.
Morris, who missed out on his sides semi-final defeat to Westmeath, is given his usual right full-back position. Also retained at full forward is Darren Browne, who impressed as a substitute during the semi-final.
Meanwhile, with further indication of the huge interest surrounding the Ulster football final to be played at Croke Park, the GAA yesterday announced that the ticket office in Croke Park has sold out of its allocation of tickets for Sunday's meeting between Armagh and Donegal.
Stand tickets for Kerry against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds are available from clubs and county boards, while cash will be taken at the turnstiles for terrace tickets.
Similarly, the stand in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, will also be ticketed for the meeting of Dublin and Longford, while cash will be taken at the stiles for entry to the terraces.
WEXFORD (SF v Offaly): J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, L O'Brien; W Carley, P Colfer; R Barry, P Forde, D Fogarty; J Lawlor, D Browne, M Forde.
KILKENNY (SH v Galway): J McGarry; J Ryall, N Hickey, T Walsh; R Mullaly, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, K Coogan; M Comerford, H Shefflin, C Phelan; E Brennan, DJ Carey, J Coogan.
