TEAM NEWS:WATERFORD hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has made one change to replace former panellist Jack Kennedy and some alterations to his half-forward line ahead of the All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway in Thurles.
Kennedy’s decision to leave the panel, prompted by Fitzgerald hauling him ashore in the early stages of the Munster final defeat to Tipperary, does not see his replacement, Dan Shanahan, rewarded with a starting berth. That honour goes to Shane Casey at left corner forward.
Shane Prendergast is switched to centre forward with Stephen Molumphy going to the left wing.
Galway manager John McIntyre will announce his team today.
Anthony Daly is expected to reintroduce recovered duo Ross O’Carroll and Ronan Fallon to the Dublin hurling team to play Limerick with the former set to start, while the latter should come in after a frustrating summer sullied by injury.
An All-Ireland under-21 winner with Limerick, Maurice O’Brien is expected to replace the injured Oisín Gough at corner back for his adopted county.
Kildare football supporters need not have worried as Mikey Conway and James Kavanagh shook off their respective injuries to be included in Kieran McGeeney’s team to play Wicklow in Portlaoise tomorrow. This means an unchanged line-up from the Leinster final defeat to Dublin.
Mick O’Dwyer has also released the same Wicklow team, making it conceivable that for an astonishing fourth game running the Kerryman won’t feel the need to make any substitutions.
Donegal manager John Joe Doherty followed suit, giving a stamp of approval to the 15 men that overcame Derry for tomorrow’s fourth round tie with Galway in Markievicz Park. Former captain Neil Gallagher and Ciarán Bonner are still not being considered after being put off the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Thursdays are normally an avalanche of late team announcements but most intercounty managers, including Jack O’Connor in Kerry, have opted not to reveal their hands with the six-day turnaround presenting an ideal excuse to say nothing.
There might be unrest in the Kerry camp ahead of their match with Antrim in Tullamore with no team coming from Liam Bradley in Belfast.
Unconfirmed reports (rumour, basically) of problems are also gaining momentum in the hurling half of Antrim as Terence McNaughton tries to keep a panel together ahead of their relegation play-off meeting with Offaly. So, no team named until they take to the field.
Joe Dooley’s men have their own problems as Joe Brady is ruled out with a groin injury but their main concern is Rory Hanniffy. The veteran wing back sustained ankle ligament damage in training and would be a huge loss ahead of an already depressing fight for survival. Confirmation was not forthcoming, nor was an email with 15 names.
Down in Clare, captain Brian O’Connell is suspended and Gerry O’Grady slowed by a troublesome groin. This sees Conor McMahon and Gary O’Connor come into the defence to face Wexford.
Alan Markham is held in reserve but manager Mike McNamara expects to use him at some point if necessary.
CLARE (SHC v Wexford): P Brennan; C Cooney, J McInerney, C McMahon; P Donnellan, B Bugler, G OConnor; P Vaughan, T Griffin; T Carmody, D Barrett, J Clancy; N Gilligan, D McMahon, B Nugent.
WATERFORD (SHC v Galway):C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, A Kearney; K Moran, S OSullivan; J Nagle, S Prendergast, S Molumphy; J Mullane, E Kelly, S Casey.
DONEGAL (SFC v Galway): M Boyle; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, B Monaghan, E McGee; B Boyle, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh, B Roper, L McLoone; C Dunne, M Murphy, C McFadden.
WICKLOW (SFC v Kildare): M Travers; C Hyland, D O hAnnaidh, S Kelly; P McWalter, B McGrath, D Hayden; J Stafford, T Walsh; JP Dalton, T Hannon, L Glynn; D Odlum, S Furlong, P Earls.
KILDARE (SFC v Wicklow): T Corley; H McGrillen, M Foley, E Bolton; M OFlaherty, B Flanagan, M Conway; D Flynn, D Earley; J Kavanagh, P ONeill, R Sweeney; A Smith, K Donnelly, J Doyle.
