MIKE GALLIGAN has been left out of the Limerick team to face Ant rim in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final double header at Croke Park on Sunday. As a result, Barry Foley, who has showed much promise in his appearances as a substitute this year, comes into the side at right half forward. Frankie Carroll moves to the left.
Galligan, an established forward in the side for some years, has found it hard to tie down a place this championship. Substituted in the Cork and Clare matches, he was dropped for the Munster final against Tipperary. However, after making a better contribution when coming on for the second half in the drawn game, Galligan returned to the starting line-up for the Munster final replay. He was, however, substituted again after an ineffectual display.
The Limerick manager, Tom Ryan, and his selectors have opted for Foley on the basis that his performances in the championship to date have been impressive. Foley, from the Claughan club, scored two points as a substitute in the semifinal against Clare and also made an impression in the two-match saga against Tipperary, also as a sub.
Wexford's team is unlikely to be known until later today, but, as things stood last night, it was believed that the selectors will field the team which started against Offaly in the Leinster final.
This would indicate that veteran George O'Connor will not be included from the start. He was sent in as a substitute towards the end of, the match against Offaly in what was seen as a sentimental gesture to ensure that he would win a Leinster medal on the field.
It was reported before that match that he was suffering from a hand injury, but subsequent information suggested that the Wexford selectors were less than frank with the declaration of their intentions to the press and the public in the days prior to the match.
As things worked out, several changes were announced in the actual line-up just before the start of the match involving the fullback line, the halfback line, the midfield pairing and the half forward line.
The information (rumour is probably a more accurate description) from the team camp at the moment is that O'Connor is fit but will not start. There is some speculation about which positions Rod Guiney, John O'Connor and Sean Flood will's take. Wexford seem to feel that they must curb Joe Rabbitte, the tall Galway attacker, and this may, to some extent, dictate the line-out.
Meanwhile, there is considerable"annoyance in Wexford circles about their allocation of tickets for the county's biggest hurling match since the All-Ireland final of 1977. Interest in the match against Galway is intense and the Wexford allocation of 13,000 tickets is regarded as totally inadequate.
The Wexford manager, Liam Griffin, said yesterday that Wexford hurling fans had travelled faithfully to Croke Park for all matches, even when the county was not involved, and he appealed to the GAA to be more generous towards them now in recognition of their loyalty.
Galway were burning the midnight oil in their deliberations insofar as their line-out for Sunday" match is concerned. They have, in fact, something of an embarrassment of riches and there will be some speculation about their hall, back line for the match against Wexford.
Galway have always produced splendid half back combinations and on this occasion Padraig Kelly, Conor O'Donovan, Nigel Shaughnessy and Michael Donoghue will all be challenging for places for what will be regarded as the top of the bill in a fascinating clash of styles and colours at Croke Park.
Antrim report a clean bill of health among their panel for the semi-final. The McCambridge brothers, Conor and Ciaran, are both reported to be fit to regain, their places. The team line-out is expected to be announced tomorrow night.
