GAA:WEXFORD MANAGER Jason Ryan has resisted any temptation to change his winning formula for Sunday's Leinster football final against Dublin at Croke Park.
Having seen his team rack up seven goals and 52 points in their three championship games to date – against Offaly, Westmeath and Carlow – Ryan was always likely to announce an unchanged team, although players like PJ Banville and Adrian Morrissey were pressing hard for starting positions.
It means Daithí Waters and Rory Quinlivan will once again hold down the midfield positions, with David Murphy captaining the team from centre back. Colm Morris is also named at number 13 again, but once again likely to drift back into a more neutral role, leaving Ciarán Lyng and Redmond Barry as the likely two-man full-forward line.
The full-back line of Joey Wadding, Graeme Molloy, and Brian Malone are handed the daunting task of marking Dublin’s headline forwards Bernard Brogan, Diarmuid Connolly and Eoghan O’Gara – although Wexford have some equally capable forwards in the likes of Ben Brosnan and Shane Roche as they look to overturn the result of their last Leinster final appearance in 2008, when they lost to Dublin 3-23 to 0-9.
Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has made two changes for Sunday’s Munster final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with Jerome Maher taking over from Wayne Hutchinson at full-back. Stephen Molumphy will captain the side from midfield, with Shane O’Sullivan moving to centre forward, while Eoin McGrath comes into the half-forward line in place of Maurice Shanahan.
Tony Browne, who will celebrate his 38th birthday later this month, starts his 20th championship campaign at right-half back alongside Michael Walsh. But Eoin Kelly must once again be content with a place on the bench.
Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte has named an unchanged team for tomorrow’s qualifier against Longford from that which lost the Ulster semi-final to Donegal, although Stephen O’Neill will undergo a late fitness test on a hamstring strain.
Defender Martin Swift is also doubtful with a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile Clare hurling manager Ger “Sparrow” O’Loughlin has admitted that the failure to record any meaningful results during his two-year reign was the main reason behind his decision to step down – although he believes the county’s hurling future is still bright. O’Loughlin announced his decision yesterday, after considering his options following Clare’s 17-point defeat to Galway in the qualifiers last Saturday.
WEXFORD (SF v Dublin):Anthony Masterson; Joey Wadding, Graeme Molloy, Brian Malone; Adrian Flynn, David Murphy (Capt), Aindreas Doyle; Daithí Waters, Rory Quinlivan; Shane Roche, Ciarán Lyng, Ben Brosnan; Colm Morris, Eric Bradley, Redmond Barry.
WATERFORD (SH v Tipperary): C Hennessy; D Fives, J Maher, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, K Moran; S Molumphy, R Foley; E McGrath, S O'Sullivan P Mahony; J Mullane, S Walsh, B O'Sullivan.
TYRONE (SF v Longford): P McConnell, M Swift, J McMahon, R McMenamin, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh, B Dooher, B McGuigan, P Harte, M Penrose, M Donnelly, S O'Neill.
LEITRIM (SF v Down):C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, P Maguire, D Beck, G Reynolds, B Prior, D Lowe, D Sweeney, R Lowe, E Mulligan, C Clarke, B McDonald, J Glancy (capt), A Croal.
