Conor Phelan has been called into the Kilkenny starting line-up for the first time for Sunday's National Hurling League meeting with Cork at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, a game that will have a major bearing on which of the two teams goes through to the final.
Ian O'Riordan
The 20-year-old from Clara was a Kilkenny minor two years ago, but only came into the senior picture last week when appearing as a late substitute in the three-point loss to Tipperary. Manager Brian Cody, however, has clearly felt the time is right to give Phelan his chance and named him at right wing forward in place of Brian McEvoy.
His introduction is one of two changes from the team that fell to Tipperary. Tommy Walsh is moved from midfield to the other wing forward position, with Jimmy Coogan reverting to the substitutes' bench. Pat Tennyson is called in to fill the other midfield place alongside Derek Lyng.
Team captain Charlie Carter misses out for the second week running. His absence from the starting line-up against Tipperary, despite scoring 1-6 in the previous game, is now known to have had something of an unsettling effect on the team. Although he subsequently appeared as a substitute and scored 1-0, Cody has once again decided to keep him in reserve.
Cork have also introduced a newcomer in Setanta Ó hAilpín - the latest member of one the GAA's most talented families - who starts for the first time at senior level. Named at right corner forward, the 20-year-old is the younger brother of the more famous Seán Óg, and has already appeared several times as a substitute.
The younger Ó hAilpín's introduction is one of three changes from the side which defeated Clare, with John Gardiner returning to wing back in place of Tom Kenny, and Mickey O'Connell coming back in place of Paul Tierney to form a new midfield partnership with Kenny.
Gardiner, O'Connell and the Ó hAilpín brothers were not considered for starting places in the Clare game as they all played football with their club Na Piarsaigh the previous night. The younger Ó hAilpín and Gardiner both came in as substitutes.
Elsewhere, there are two changes to the Galway team to play Tipperary in Thurles from that which beat Wexford last Sunday. Ciaran Callanan replaces Liam Donoghue in goal and Kevin Broderick comes into the full forward line to replace the injured Mark Kerins.
Brian Whelahan has committed to the Offaly hurlers for at least another season. Whelahan made his decision after meeting manager Michael McNamara on Tuesday afternoon and a few hours later was back in training with the panel.
Speaking yesterday Whelahan made it clear that he was happy with his decision. "I appreciate that hurling is a young man's game but after discussions with the manager I felt that I had a part to play in the future of the Offaly team."
KILKENNY (SH v Cork): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; T Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; P Tennyson, D Lyng; C Phelan, H Shefflin, T Walsh; DJ Carey, M Comerford, D Brennan.
CORK (SH v Kilkenny): D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, P Mulcahy, M Fitzgerald; J Gardiner, R Curran, D O'Sullivan; M O'Connell, T Kenny; S McGrath, N McCarthy, B O'Connor; S Ó hAilpín, J Deane, A Browne.
GALWAY (SH v Tipperary): C Callanan; D Joyce, T Óg Regan, O Canning; F Healy, D O'Brien, B Mahony; R Gantley, R Murray; D Tierney, C Moore, D Hayes; K Broderick, O Fahy, D Forde.
DUBLIN (SH v Offaly): G Ryan; P Brennan, S Perkins, K Elliott; S Hiney, K Wilson, K Ryan; C Keaney, R Fallon; S McDonnell, K O'Donoghue, K Flynn; K Horgan, L Ryan, G Ennis.
LIMERICK (SF v Wexford): S O'Donnell, M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack, C Mullane, J Quane, D Reidy, J Stokes, J Galvin, S Lavin, M Gavin, S Kelly, C Fitzgerald, B Begley, M Reidy.
TYRONE (SF v Fermanagh): P McConnell, R McMenamin, C Holmes, M McGeee, C Gormley, G Devlin, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh, E McGinley, G Cavlan, S O'Neill, B Dooher, P Canavan, O Mulligan.
