Galway hurling manager Conor Hayes has brought in last year's All-Ireland minor winning captain John Lee to bolster his squad for this season's championship. The Liam Mellowes defender, who was an inspirational leader as Mattie Murphy's charges beat Kilkenny in a thrilling decider, is one of three newcomers to the squad.
Also drafted into the 31-man panel following excellent form for their clubs in the Galway championship are Meelick/Eyrecourt's Noel Kenny and Gerald Mahon from Kinvara. They will replace Adrian Cullinane and Diarmuid Cloonan, who have withdrawn from the squad.
Hayes is hopeful that Eugene Cloonan will recover from a back injury ahead of Saturday-week's championship opener. There are hopes that former All Star Kevin Broderick will be available later in the season, having undergone surgery this week for a groin injury.
Meanwhile, Darren Stamp is not expected to start for Wexford in Sunday's Leinster hurling semi-final against Laois. The Oulart-The-Ballagh player was selected at centre back, but is still suffering the effects of a heel injury and his place is likely to go to Declan Ruth, with Malachy Travers coming in at wing back.
In football, Tyrone forward Brian McGuigan is due back in Ireland today following a four-month stay in Australia. Tyrone manager Mickey Harte hasn't ruled out a role for the playmaker in the Ulster football championship semi-final against Cavan on Sunday week.
"We'll see how he is when he lands on this side of the earth again, and gets a few sessions in with us," said Harte. "We'll begin to understand just how fit he is relative to the rest of the team. And if his fitness levels are good, well, he's a quality player and there's do doubting his ability to do anything. But that will depend on how he fits in with pace of where our team is at at the moment."
McGuigan's return comes as a massive boost to Tyrone's championship challenge, particularly in light of the loss of Colin Holmes with a knee injury, and continuing doubts over skipper Brian Dooher, whose recovery from an ankle problem is progressing more slowly than had been hoped.
