GAELIC GAMES: Kilkenny and Galway managers, Brian Cody and Conor Hayes, have both shown a ruthless streak by leaving some quality players in reserve ahead of tomorrow's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final in Thurles.
Cody makes four changes in personnel to the team that beat Wexford in the Leinster final on July 2nd, dropping his son Donnacha and captain Jackie Tyrrell as the right side of the Kilkenny defence is completely altered. A fit again Michael Kavanagh and James Ryall come in.
Eoin Larkin moves from full forward to midfield as Richie Mullally is also dropped with Eoin McCormack coming into the full forward line. Martin Comerford moves to full forward.
The other change is straight forward as Aidan Fogarty is named alongside Eddie Brennan and James Fitzpatrick in the half forward line, at the expense of Michael Rice.
Tyrrell, Mullally and Rice all registered scores in the Leinster final but Cody revealed his hand earlier this week by selecting them, along with Donnacha Cody, on the B team for a training match.
Noel Hickey has been passed fit to start at left corner back despite suffering a hamstring strain last week. Richie Power is the only panel member not considered for selection due to injury.
Hayes has made three changes for the repeat of last year's thrilling All-Ireland semi-final. David Collins returns at left wing back, presuming his hamstring holds up in a fitness test tomorrow, in place of Ger Mahon, while Alan Kerins and Conor Dervan are preferred to David Tierney and Eoin Lynch.
Waterford manager Justin McCarthy confirmed last night that captain and freetaker Paul Flynn will not start Sunday's quarter-final against Tipperary due to an ongoing groin problem that will eventually require surgery.
Flynn is expected to play some part in Sunday's main event at Croke Park having been used used sporadically in recent weeks, when he still influenced the outcome of the vital qualifier against Galway by scoring a goal from a free to secure a 1-25 to 2-20 victory. McCarthy made switches to every line besides full forward with corner back James Murray and fullback Kevin Moran demoted to the bench.
Tom Feeney returns to the squares edge after a recent shoulder injury, while Seamus Prendergast has recovered from a hamstring problem to line out at centre forward.
The knock on effect sees Shane O'Sullivan move to midfield, Ken McGrath to centre back and Declan Prendergast to right corner back.
Wexford manager Seamus Murphy has also revamped his last line of defence for Sunday's first match at Croke Park (throw in 2.15m) against Clare with Darragh Ryan returning from what seemed a permanent exile to regain the fullback slot. Team captain Keith Rossiter moves to the corner. Darren Stamp is named among the replacements but is unlikely to feature. Rory McCarthy moves to the midfield slot with Michael Jacob coming in from the start at wing forward. Malachy Travers is named at wing back and Tomas Mahon at corner forward as PJ Nolan succumbs to a shoulder injury and Micheál Jacob drops out of the starting line up.
Meanwhile, tickets for the quarter-final double header in Croke Park on Sunday are on sale from the Ticket Office at the rear of the Cusack Stand from 11am to 7pm today. They will also be available on Saturday between 11am and 4pm and are currently on sale through Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and through the participating county boards.
KILKENNY (SHC v Galway): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, N Hickey; J Ryall, J Tennyson, T Walsh; E Larkin, D Lyng; E Brennan, J Fitzpatrick, A Fogarty; E McCormack, M Comerford, H Shefflin.
GALWAY (SHC v Kilkenny): L Donoghue; D Joyce, T Regan, O Canning; D Hardiman, S Kavanagh, D Collins; F Healy, C Dervan; C Connolly, D Forde, A Kerins; D Hayes, G Farragher, N Healy.
WATERFORD (SHC v Tipperary): C Hennessey; D Prendergast, T Feeney, E Murphy; T Browne, K McGrath, B Phelan; S O'Sullivan, D Bennett; D Shanahan, S Prendergast, E Kelly; J Mullane, M Walsh, E McGrath.
WEXFORD (SHC v Clare): D Fitzhenry; D O'Connor, D Ryan, K Rossiter (capt.); M Travers; D Ruth, D Lyng; R McCarthy, C Kenny; M Jacob, R Kehoe, E Quigley; S Doyle, R Jacob, T Mahon.
