LARRY O'GORMAN has joined Wexford's Tom Dempsey and Rory McCarthy on the injured list ahead of Sunday's meeting with Laois in Division One of the National Hurling League.
Dempsey, their top scorer, and McCarthy were not expected to make it but O'Gorman has also been ruled out with a knock picked up in a midweek challenge against Waterford.
Rod Guiney, who played at midfield against Limerick in the last round, reverts to the half back line while Paul Finn takes over from Guiney at midfield. Michael Jordan, Eamonn Scallan and Garry Laffan come into a radically reshuffled forward line.
Both Laois and Wexford are pointless after three rounds of the league and the team that loses on Sunday will be clear favourites for the drop to Division Two.
O'Gorman, 29, hurt his right, elbow against Waterford and has been in some discomfort since. "The doctor said it could be strained ligaments. I pulled on a ball with an opponent and sort of twisted the elbow. I still can't straighten it out," he said yesterday.
The versatile Faythe Harriers player has already lined out at half back and midfield in the league. A number of factors explain Wexford's poor form since the league began, he says, not least the continuing distractions that dragged on long after their All Ireland victory.
He calculates that the players, between them, visited 153 schools in Wexford alone, ceaselessly evangelising on behalf of the game.
It had to stop some time however and they've been back in the gym since late January. Mentally, however, they were still elsewhere: "Without a shadow of a doubt. No matter where you go, people always want to talk about the AllIreland, you just can't seem to get away from it. I think the fellows had gone through so much, we had to take in so much that we were still a bit tired and found it hard to get going in training.
They were consequently beaten by opponents who were not just hungrier, but who were also keen to take down the All Ireland champions. Some even brought a bit of needle along. "We've come across a few unusual situations in the last few games, there's been a few cross words and a few thumps. We've never been in that position before, but I think we're well able to take it," he says.
The sharpness and form is coming back however. Morale and team spirit in the dressing room is even higher than last year, he says, because their confidence has been boosted so much by last year's experiences. They are anxious now to start winning games again.
"We've been getting more focussed and, as Rory (Kinsella, the team manager) says, there are no more excuses from here on. We have to get down to brass tacks and that's it."
Offaly meanwhile have made four changes in personnel for their game with Kilkenny at Birr. Liam Coughlan replaces David Hughes in goals, Michael Duignan returns for Daithi Regan in attack while teenager Colm Cassidy makes his competitive senior debut at left half back. He replaces the injured Kevin Martin. Billy Dooley, also injured, is replaced by Paidi Mulhare at right corner forward.
Galway have made two changes from the team that beat Tipperary. Cathal Moore and Justin Campbell, both injured are replaced by Conor O'Donovan and Fergal Healy who makes his senior debut at right half forward.
Their game with Clare at Athenry has been changed to 3.0 p.m. The Division Two clash between Dublin and Cork at Parnell Park has also been changed to 3.0 p.m. In Division Four, the Tyrone Sligo game at Omagh has been put back to 5.0 p.m.
