News round-upDublin hurlers have been dealt a double setback ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Kilkenny. Captain Kevin Flynn and his attacking colleague Liam Ryan have decided to depart the panel and go to the US. Their withdrawal comes just days after the Leinster semi-final drubbing by Offaly.
"I was aware that Liam Ryan was contemplating going to the States," said manager Humphrey Kelleher, "but Kevin Flynn was a bit of a shock. As a result, I've had to bring in new lads who will be the basis for things going forward. We're going to go out and give it a good go.
"Through the league I've been trying to bring through as many new players as possible so there's a panel of 30 to take us through the next few years.
"We need something new in Dublin hurling and this is the start because the way we've been doing things for the past 40 years isn't good enough. In 1997, Dublin set up a development squad at under-14 level. Seven years on those guys are 20 or 21 and we're bringing that generation through at senior level."
Kilkenny, for their part, have reacted sharply to the Wexford defeat in the Leinster semi-final. Corner back Michael Kavanagh has been dropped with Mark Phelan coming in to replace him.
Tommy Walsh, one of the better players against Wexford, moves back to the other corner.
Generally deployed at wing forward since his arrival on the senior team, Walsh has played most of his under-age hurling, including with St Kieran's and UCC's Fitzgibbon team, at corner back.
JJ Delaney switches out to wing back in place of Brian Hogan while, on the other wing, Richie Mullally replaces Seán Dowling. Ken Coogan gets the nod at centrefield instead of Pat Tennyson.
Otherwise, the last day's full-forward line is switched to the half forwards with DJ Carey back from injury on the inside line along with Henry Shefflin. John Hoyne loses out while Aidan Fogarty takes Walsh's place in attack.
Tipperary have also made changes for their qualifier with Limerick. Declan Fanning comes in at centre back with Diarmuid Fitzgerald moving over to his more familiar wing back slot with Paul Kelly moving up to partner Colin Morrissey at centrefield.
Eddie Enright is selected on the 40 with John Carroll going to full forward. The players to lose out to Fanning's restoration (he was the established NHL centre back) and corner forward Seamus Butler's championship debut are John Devane and Paddy O'Brien.
Meanwhile, GAA president Seán Kelly has launched the secondary football competition agreed at this year's annual congress. Named in honour of Laois's legendary player Tommy Murphy, it will be contested by designated counties who lose in the first and second round of this year's qualifiers.
This year's designated counties are: Leitrim, Sligo, Louth, Wicklow, Carlow, Longford, Wexford, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Antrim, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan and London. Either Wexford or Westmeath will not be eligible, as one of them will be in next month's Leinster final.
Round one will be played on July 10th and 11th with the quarter-finals a fortnight later and the semi-finals two weeks after that.
The home final will take place on the same programme as the first All-Ireland football semi-final on August 22nd. And the winner will travel to Boston to play a North American selection for the overall title.
KILKENNY (SH v Dublin): J McGarry; M Phelan, N Hickey, T Walsh; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, K Coogan; M Comerford, J Coogan, E Brennan; A Fogarty, DJ Carey, H Shefflin.
TIPPERARY (SH v Limerick): B Cummins; M Maher, P Maher, P Curran; E Corcoran, D Fanning, D Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, P Kelly; T Dunne, E Enright, B Dunne; S Butler, J Carroll, E Kelly.
MAYO (SF v Galway): F Ruddy; C Moran, D Heaney, G Ruane; G Mullins, J Nallen, F Costello; J Gill, R McGarrity; M McNicholas, K McDonald, A Dillon; C Mortimer, T Mortimer, B Maloney.
LEITRIM (SF v Roscommon): G Phelan; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; N Gilbane, S Quinn, B Prior; D Maxwell, C Carroll; J Goldrick, J Guckian, C Regan; D Brennan, F McBrien, M Foley.
DUBLIN (SH v Kilkenny): G Maguire; P Brennan, S Perkins, S Daly; S Hiney, R Fallon, K Ryan; A de Paor, D Sweeney; S O'Shea, D Curtin, S McCann; D O'Callaghan, M Carton, P Fleury.
TYRONE (MF v Donegal): J Curran; N McGinn, P Marlow, D Burke; B Boggs, N Kerr, M Murray; R Mulgrew, S O'Hagan; C O'Neill, M Cunningham, S Donaghy; G Devlin, C Cavanagh, R McCrory.
