Kilkenny wing-back Peter Barry is definitely out of this weekend's Guinness Leinster Hurling Final against Wexford with a broken thumb. The All-Star sustained the injury during the semi-final victory over Offaly three weeks ago and although Kilkenny boss Brian Cody was hopeful the James Stephens man could recover in time for Sunday's clash, an examination of his thumb at the weekend indicated the bone had not healed properly, ruling him out for selection.
To make matters worse for the All-Ireland champions, they are awaiting further fitness tests on star forwards John Power and DJ Carey. Power sustained a groin injury during the win over Offaly and aggravated the problem in training over the weekend. He is rated as extremely doubtful for Sunday's vital match. However, Carey is expected to be included in Sunday's line-up despite the recurrence of a niggling ankle injury during a club match last week.
Meanwhile, Wexford named their team last night and boss Tony Dempsey has made one change to the side that beat Laois in the Leinster semi-finals. Gary Laffan has been left out of the team with Ryan Quigley coming in at left wing-forward and Barry Goff switching over to Laffan's full-forward position.
Dempsey has also made some positional changes in defence. Larry O'Gorman will move back to his more familar left wing-back spot with Declan Ruth lining out at right wing-back and Seanie Flood taking up the role at left corner-back.
Wexford: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D Ryan (capt), S Flood; D Ruth, L Dunne, L O'Gorman; A Fenlon, M Jordan; D Stamp, L Murphy, R Quigley; R McCarthy, B Goff, P Codd.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
