GAELIC GAMES/Team News: Conor Hayes has made six changes to the Galway team that opened their hurling league campaign with a win over Dublin for Sunday's meeting with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.
Injury has ruled out team captain Ollie Canning so Damien Joyce takes his place in the full back line. Diarmuid Cloonan and Shane Kavanagh replace Peter Huban and Aidan O'Donnell in the half back line, while Richie Murray and David Tierney re-establish their midfield partnership. Liam Donoghue is also back in goal instead of Damien Howe.
Hurler of the year Henry Shefflin has joind DJ Carey on the injured list and will miss Kilkenny's clash with Galway on Sunday. Overall Kilkenny have named 10 of their All-Ireland winning team.
Dublin manager Marty Morris found his team riddled with what he calls the 'Blue flu' this week, but has settled on just two personnel changes for Sunday's meeting Clare at Parnell Park. Defender Darragh Spain and forward Tommy Moore were both ruled out with the 'flu, making way for Kevin Ryan at corner back and David Sweeney at corner forward.
There are several more positional switches, with Conal Keaney moved from midfield to wing forward due his Trench Cup activities earlier this weekend with Tallaght IT. Shane Martin will now start at full forward, Liam O'Donoghue at full back, with Carl Meehan and Stephen McDonald at midfield.
Opponents Clare have recalled several leading names, including defenders Brian and Frank Lohan, and centre back Seanie McMahon. Also gaining places in the forward line is Diarmuid Kennedy and Eamonn Taffe, who replaced the injured Tony Carmody in the first round whipping of Laois.
In football, Cork manager Larry Tompkins has given a starting place to Jim O'Donoghue for Sunday's meeting with Dublin, also at Parnell Park. O'Donoghue takes over at centre forward from the injured Bernie Collins. Dublin will name their team after training tonight.
With Stephen Lucey involved with UCD in the Sigerson Cup and Patrick Kirby doubtful because of Dr Harty cup duties, the Limerick selectors have left two positions vacant on the team to play Tipperary in the NHL on Saturday. Lucey will come in at midfield if UCD fail to advance beyond the quarter finals on this Thursday.
Gone from the side which lost to Cork in the opening round are Mark Keane, Stephen McDonogh and Mike O'Brien, replaced by Brian Geary, John Meskell and Donncha Sheehan. Olly Moran, winner of a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with W.I.T. last week, continues at centre back, and T.J. Ryan is once more named at full-forward.
Waterford have made five personnel changes for the trip to Monaghan on Sunday from the side that lost to Derry last weekend in the League. Into the side come Jimmy Sheehan, John O'Reilly and Ritchie Hennessey in defence, while Martin and Eoghan Walsh are named in attack.
TEAM SELECTIONS
GALWAY (SH v Kilkenny): L Donoghue; D Joyce, L Hodgins, A Coen; T Og Regan, D Cloonan, S Kavanagh; R Murray, D Tierney; R Gantley, C Moore, K Broderick; A Kerins, O Fahy, F Healy.
KILKENNY (SH v Galway): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, T Walsh; B McEvoy, J Coogan, J Hoyne; D Mackey, M Comerford, C Carter.
DUBLIN (SH v Clare): B McLoughlin; K Elliot, L O'Donoghue, K Ryan; S Hiney, L Ryan, K Wilson; C Meehan, S McDonald; S Perkins, K O'Donoghue, C Keaney; D Sweeney, S Martin, K Flynn.
CLARE (SH v Dublin): S O'Connell; D Hoey, B Lohan, F Lohan; C Plunkett, S McMahon, G O'Grady; D McMahon, A Markham; T Griffin, T Carmody, D Kennedy; N Gilligan, E Taffe, B Murphy.
CORK (SF v Dublin): K O'Dwyer; N O'Donovan, A Lynch, A O'Connor; S Levis, E Sexton, N O'Leary; N Murphy, G Canty; BJ O'Sullivan, J O'Donoghue, J Miskella; J O'Shea, M O Croinin, C Crowley.
LIMERICK (SH v Tipperary): T. Houlihan; D. Reale, G. Mulcahy, B. Geary, E. Foley, O. Moran, M. Foley; P. Lawlor, AN Other; J. Moran, N. Moran, J. Meskell, D. Sheehan, T.J. Ryan, AN Other.
LIMERICK (MF v Kerry, in Killarney): T. Enright; M. Fitzgerald, P. Fox, B. McAuley, B. Hayes, S. Fox, E. Geoghegan;J. Ryan, Maurice Fitzgerald; R. Egan, J. Cooke, S. Buckley, V.O'Connell, P. Hyland, G. Ahern.
WATERFORD (SF v Monaghan): P Houlihan, M Crotty, J Sheehan, K Coffey, J O'Reilly, E Rockett, R Hennessey, K O'Keeffe, R Power, C Power, G Hurney, M walsh, E Walsh, J Hearne, M Power.
