GERRY O'GRADY has seemingly won his battle with a fractured hand to take up the right-corner-back slot in Clare's Munster hurling semi-final against Limerick at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

O'Grady has recovered from the injury sustained in the defeat of Waterford on June 1st, but his fellow corner back Darragh Clancy has succumbed to an ankle problem and is replaced by Brendan Bulger with Pat Vaughan coming into the side at half back.

Otherwise, it is the same team that ended the Justin McCarthy era in Waterford.

There are several notable absentees from the Limerick side that contested last September's All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, with Seán O'Connor tasked with replacing Brian Begley at full forward.

Long-term absentee Donnacha Sheehan returns at corner forward while Brian Geary is named among the replacements, although he has not played since a knee operation last year.

The other change is positional, with Mark O'Riordan moving to corner back as the promising Séamus Hickey comes out to the wing-back position.

Meanwhile, Laois manager Liam Kearns is down to his third choice wing back after Colm Kelly of St Joseph's was ruled out of Sunday's Leinster football semi-final against Wexford due to a cartilage problem. Brendan Quigley is already ruled out with a head injury. Kearns has yet to name a number 14.

Francis McEldowney is retained in the Derry defence for the Ulster football semi-final against Fermanagh in Omagh on Saturday evening after former All Star Seán Marty Lockhart picked up a quad injury.

James Conway replaces the suspended Fergal Doherty in midfield.