Limerick have made two significant changes ahead of Sunday's Guinness All-Ireland hurling quarter-final clash with Wexford at Croke Park. With James Moran returning to the midfield following a recent hand injury, his deputy in the Munster final defeat to Tipperary, Mike O'Brien, moves back to his preferred position in the half forwards. That means Sean O'Connor, who impressed with 1-3 on his debut against Tipperary, will be relegated to the bench, while Damien Reale comes in for Jack Foley in the half back line.
Wexford have been forced to make two important changes following injuries to corner backs Colm Keogh and Sean Flood. Manager Tony Dempsey will look to impressive U'21s Rory Mallon and David O'Connor to deputise, while midfielder Nicky Lambert and centre forward Trevor Kelly have also been drafted in from the U'21s. Declan Ruth will be given time to recover from his recent hamstring injury and will start at wing back should he prove his fitness.
Tickets for Sunday's games will go on sale from tomorrow morning at the Ticket Office in the New Stand at Croke Park. The office will be open from 10.00am to 6.00pm, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and tickets will also be available opposite Quinn's pub on the Drumcondra Road, and from the Matt Talbot Credit Union on Fitzgibbon Street.
Meanwhile, Limerick selector Michael Fitzgerald will hear the outcome of his appeal against a year's suspension tomorrow. Elsewhere, Justin McCarthy looks set to take over from Gerard McCarthy as Waterford hurling manager. Current selector Colm Bonnar and former Waterford All Star Seamie Hannon are also expected to feature in the new backroom team.
The teams are:
LIMERICK: T Houlihan, S McDonagh, TJ Ryan, C Smith, D Reale, B Geary, M Foley, C Carey, J Moran, P O'Grady, O Moran, M O'Brien, J Butler, B Begley, B Foley.
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry, R Mallon, D Ryan, D O'Connor, AN Other, L Dunne, L O'Gorman, A Fenlon, N Lambert, D Stamp, T Kelly, P Codd, M Jordan, L Murphy, R McCarthy.
Filed by Shane Murray
