The Laois hurling team manager Padraig Horan and his management team have resigned. It's thought that the decision is related to the refusal of a number of high profile players to play in the current league campaign. The county board held meetings with the players this week and Horan informed the county board officers before training last night.
Meanwhile in team news, Charlie Carter has been recalled to the Kilkenny team to play Waterford in Sunday's National League encounter at Nowlan Park. It's Carter's first start since the All-Ireland defeat by Cork and he replaces Niall Moloney. Eamon Kennedy comes in for Michael Kavanagh in a reshuffled half-back line. Brian McEvoy returns to the side and is chosen at left half-forward in place of JP Corcoran while Kevin Power comes into the team at right half-forward for John Phelan.
There are two changes on the Waterford team for the Division 1B top of the table clash. Sean Cullinane comes in at right corner-back for his first start since last year's Championship defeat by Cork and replaces Stephen Curley. Former captain Brian Flannery is named at left half-back in place of James Murray.
In a radically changed Clare team, Davy Fitzgerald, Frank Lohan, Fergal Hegarty and Richard Woods all start for the first time in the current league campaign for the fixture against Antrim on Saturday. Brian Lohan is resting a double hamstring injury that may keep him out for up to a month.
