All-Ireland champions Offaly and defeated finalists Kilkenny both have five players in the Leinster line-up for Sunday's Railway Cup Inter-provincial hurling final in Nowlan Park. Kilkenny provide the team captain in Willie O'Connor, who plays at left corner back. The Offaly players are goalkeeper Stephen Byrne, defenders Simon Whelehan, Joe Errity and Brian Whelehan and full forward John Troy. Players from the Seir Kieran and St Rynagh's clubs were not considered. They meet in the replay of the Offaly county hurling final on Saturday.
That ruled out Kevin Kinahan, Johnny, Billy and Joe Dooley from Seir Kieran and Martin Hanamy, Hubert Rigney, Paudie Mulhare and Michael Duignan from St Rynagh's.
Of considerable interest is the selection of Errity at full back. This year he has played at centre forward or full forward for Offaly. However, he was full back on the Birr team that won an All-Ireland club title in March while he has also played at full back for the county.
The five Kilkenny players in the starting line-up are O'Connor, Liam Keoghan, Brian McEvoy, DJ Carey and Charlie Carter in the attack.
Wexford provide their midfield pairing of Larry O'Gorman and Adrian Fenlon, with Martin Storey at centre forward. Dublin and Laois provide one player each - Liam Walsh at right half back and David Cuddy at right half forward respectively.
Connacht have made two changes from the side which beat Ulster in the semi-final. Galway's Noel Kenny comes in at left half forward for Mayo's Dominic Greally while Kevin Broderick replaces fellow Galwayman Alan Kerins.
Two Roscommon players are named in the starting line-up. They are Michael Cunniffe at midfield and Adrian Kelly at full forward.
Meanwhile, the All-Ireland B football final between Monaghan and Fermanagh, scheduled for Clones in a double bill with the Ulster club final between Crossmaglen Rangers from Armagh and Bellaghy from Derry, has been switched to Scotstown.
The Oireachtas senior hurling match between Tipperary and Dublin, fixed for Tullamore on Saturday, has been put back to Sunday, while the Oireachtas match between Clare and Limerick, fixed for Cusack Park on Saturday, has been switched to Sixmilebridge with a 2.0 start.
The GAA said that the Railway Cup fixture still stands despite concerns about the pitch.
Both Crossmaglen Rangers and Bellaghy were keeping their cards close to their chests yesterday insofar as team selections were concerned. Crossmaglen are hoping that Tony McEntee will be back to full fitness following a bad ankle ankle injury. Also in line for selection is Micheal Moley who scored 1-1 in the defeat of Antrim's St John's in the previous round. For Bellaghy, Paul Diamond is a doubtful starter with a knee injury.
