Ger Loughnane's first championship selection as Galway manager shows one surprise with the inclusion of Colm Callinan from Kinvara as goalkeeper. During the NHL Loughnane used three different goalkeepers, but Callinan wasn't amongst them, writes Seán Moran,GAA Correspondent
Former captain Liam Donoghue has left the panel whereas neither Aidan Ryan nor last year's minor goalkeeper James Skehill get the nod for the first championship outing in tomorrow's qualifier against Laois.
Callinan, 23 this year, has been in exceptional form for his club, which he captained to the top of their group in the county championship. He is one of three championship newcomers, along with Eoin Lynch, who won an AllIreland club medal with Portumna last year, and Iarla Tannian, a member of Limerick IT's two Fitzgibbon Cup winning sides, at centrefield and left wing forward respectively.
Another call-up who didn't feature during the league is Diarmuid Cloonan, who comes in at full back for his first championship match since the demolition by Kilkenny in 2004. Cloonan's brother Eugene was a regular during the spring, but he is also making a first championship start since the same match three years ago.
The side shows seven changes from the one that lined out in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final against Kilkenny.
Four players weren't considered because of injury - Ger Farragher (hamstring), Fergal Healy (calf), Fergal Moore (hamstring) and Mark Kerins (sickness).
Meanwhile, Laois footballers show a couple of changes from the side that defeated Longford ahead of Sunday's Leinster semi-final against Wexford. The biggest news is the inclusion of Tom Kelly, who returned to training after a long-term injury only recently, at full back. He replaces Aidan Fennelly, injured in the Longford match.
Centrefielder Noel Garvan also misses out because of injury and is indirectly replaced by Donie Brennan, making his first appearance this season. Pádraig Clancy reverts to the middle and Michael Tierney switches from corner forward to wing forward. There are concerns in the county about the fitness of Beano McDonald, but he is included.
Meanwhile, Tipperary have postponed naming a team for Saturday's All-Ireland qualifier with Offaly because of uncertainty over injuries. Centrefielder Shane McGrath is the main concern, but there are also worries about James Woodlock and two of the surviving All-Ireland medallists - Lar Corbett and Eamonn Corcoran.
This weekend's game is Tipperary's first in the qualifiers for three years, as they progressed directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals as Munster finalists in 2005 and last year. The counties met previously in the 2002 qualifiers in Portlaoise, where Tipperary won.
Antrim joint managers Terence McNaughton and Dominic McKinley make three changes to the team that hammered Down in the Ulster final.
Aaron Graffin comes in for corner back Mickey Kettle, who is injured. Other changes see Kieran Kelly coming in at full back as an indirect replacement for Malachy Molloy, who broke his hand and Shane McNaughton, son of the manager, coming in for Simon McRory.
GALWAY (SHC v Laois):C Callinan; D Joyce, D Cloonan, D Collins; D Hardiman, J Lee, G Mahon; E Lynch, D Tierney; A Kerins, D Forde, I Tannian; N Hayes, E Cloonan, D Hayes.
LAOIS (SFC v Wexford):F Byron; C Ryan, T Kelly, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormack; P Clancy, B Quigley; R Munnelly, C Conway, MJ Tierney; D Brennan, P Lawlor, B McDonald.
LAOIS (SHC):P Mullaney; C Fitzpatrick, C Healy, C Dunne; Joe Phelan, M Whelan, M McEvoy; J Fitzpatrick, S Dollard; J Brophy, J Young, JJ McHugh; T Fitzgerald, W Hyland, P Russell
ANTRIM (SHC v Clare):R McGarry; A Graffin, K Kelly, S Delargy: M McCambridge, J Campbell, C Herron; K McKeegan, B Herron; P McGill, N McManus, M Herron; Shane McNaughton, John McIntosh, P Sheils.
