GAELIC GAMES:Waterford hurling manager Justin McCarthy has named a team for Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Limerick in Croke Park. It must be noted, however, that none of these announcements during the 2007 championship have mirrored the actual positions taken up by the players when they take the field.
There is one confirmed change from the side that finally saw off Cork last Sunday, Jack Kennedy comes in for Shane Walsh while Eoin Kelly will wear the number nine jersey. Walsh lasted 45 minutes last week before Eoin McGrath came in and posted two points.
McGrath appears to have missed out on a starting berth because of the impact he brings when introduced as a replacement. Expect to see him early in the second half, as this has been a regular McCarthy ploy this summer.
As usual, Aidan Kearney has been named at wing forward despite starting every game in the corner, while Brian Phelan wears number four but is expected to line out at half back alongside veteran defenders Ken McGrath and Tony Browne.
McGrath didn't take an active role in training this week because of an old ankle injury, while Eoin Kelly has been passed fit to start after having stitches removed from a hand wound.
Dan Shanahan will come in for special attention after registering 3-3 against Limerick in the Munster final. The primary candidate, at present, for hurler of the year is named at full forward but, as already mentioned, numbers on backs count for little as the McCarthy policy sees the Waterford forwards constantly rotating.
The only change in personnel from the Waterford team that beat Limerick in the provincial final sees Kevin Moran replaced by Phelan.
Limerick have made three changes to their starting line-up from the team that overcame Clare in the quarter-final on July 29th.
Peter Lawlor is preferred over Mark O'Riordan at wing back, Seán O'Connor gets the nod ahead of Niall Moran at left wing forward, and Donie Ryan comes in for Kevin Tobin at corner forward.
Ryan replaced Moran early in the last game and registered 1-2 but Seán O'Connor's selection does raise eyebrows as he has not started in the championship this season and has struggled with a hamstring since the three-game series with Tipperary.
The only unchanged lines are midfield and full back, where Damien Reale, Stephen Lucey and the teenager Séamus Hickey have been excellent.
Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Mike Fitzgerald, who combined for 15 points in the quarter-final, are included among the Limerick forwards.
Derry football manager Paddy Crozier has named an unchanged team for the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin at a sold-out Croke Park tomorrow afternoon (throw-in 3pm).
That means centre forward Paul Murphy has been deemed fit to start despite damaging a knee in the victory over Laois on July 28th.
Murphy has been part of the panel since 1998, when he was just 18 and the former Dublin midfielder Brian Mullins managed the team.
Mark Lynch and Michael McGoldrick have also recovered from injury. Derry captain Kevin McGuckin, who came on for McGoldrick against Laois, remains on the bench after missing most of the campaign through injury. Liam Hinphey retains the wing-back slot despite being replaced at half-time by Joe Keenan the last day.
Paddy Bradley is the full forward but is expected to wander and duly be covered by one of the Dublin corner backs, Paul Griffin or David Henry.
It's expected All Star forward Enda Muldoon will move onto Dublin's rookie fullback Ross McConnell.
Derry name a strong midfield in Fergal Doherty and James Conway, who will be charged with curbing Ciarán Whelan and Shane Ryan.
Another fascinating duel pits veteran defender Seán Marty Lockhart against Jason Sherlock - the only member of the Dublin panel with an All-Ireland senior medal.
Meanwhile, a decision on the future of Offaly football manager Pat Roe will be revealed early next week. Roe's three-year term came under review after just one season and the team's demotion to Division Four of the National League, which also carried the penalty of having to participate in the Tommy Murphy Cup upon removal from the Leinster championship. Roe went before an "internal review" by the football committee on Tuesday night but no results of the meeting were made public, said county secretary Christy Todd.
