Wexford captain Paul Codd is not named in Sunday's starting line-up for the Leinster hurling semi-final against champions Kilkenny, as he has been unable to train properly in the lead-up to the match. Codd, the team's leading scorer, is one of several injuries that have undermined manager John Conran's attempts to prepare for the weekend's daunting task, writes Seán Moran GAA correspondent
Also missing will be two survivors from the All-Ireland win eight years ago, forward Larry Murphy and corner back Colm Kehoe, both of whom are bothered by groin strains.
Three debutants are introduced. Codd's Rathnure clubmate John O'Connor comes in at left-wing back and will captain the side. Malachy Travers, who has been on the panel for the past two years, is in at corner back, and Tomás Mahon is named at centrefield. The latter two made appearances as replacements last year, Travers in an attempt to curb Setanta Ó hAilpín in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.
Barry Lambert passed a fitness test on a shoulder injury and is named at right-wing forward.
Limerick footballers have left two vacancies in the side named to face Waterford in Sunday's Munster football semi-final. Goalkeeper Séamus O'Donnell, who missed the narrow win over Tipperary in the first round, has still not convinced Liam Kearns and his selectors that he is fit again and a decision has been deferred.
There is also a vacancy at right-wing forward.
Other injured absentees are Johnny Murphy, Colm Hickey and Jason Stokes. On the positive side, Maurice Reidy has returned from long-term injury and is named at left-corner forward.
The county are bidding to reach a second successive Munster final for the first time in 106 years.
Cavan have decided to start Dermot McCabe, who made such an impact when introduced at full forward during the thrilling replay defeat of Down two weeks ago for Sunday's Ulster football quarter-final against Armagh.
McCabe, who has been suffering from a knee injury, was instrumental in the fight back that saw them overcome a seven-point deficit in the final 15 minutes.
Manager Eamonn Coleman has deemed McCabe fit to start and brings him in for Seán Johnston. There is one other change to the team, with Cathal Collins, also introduced as a replacement during the Down replay, taking over from Eamonn Reilly in the right-corner back position.
Armagh won't be announcing their side until later tonight. "There's a couple of wee niggles," said manager Joe Kernan, "and we're just giving them as much time as possible to settle. Everyone played so well the last day that we'd like to give them every chance to prove their fitness. But you can take it there won't be major changes."
Peter Canavan's long-awaited comeback is likely to come against Donegal in Sunday week's Ulster semi-final. Although Tyrone's All-Ireland winning captain is not expected to start the match, he is virtually certain to make an appearance at some stage.
He hasn't played for the county since last September's All-Ireland victory and has since had surgery to repair damage to an ankle, which he injured in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.
His rehabilitation was confirmed by an appearance in a reserve league game for his club Errigal Ciaran 10 days ago. This will come as welcome news for the county after an unexpectedly uncomfortable match against a severely depleted Fermanagh side in last weekend's Ulster quarter-final.
"I don't believe he will start," said team manager Mickey Harte, "but the signs are all positive that he will be on the bench this time, and that's the first time he has been able to do that. So, if everything goes according to plan over the next 10 days, we would be very optimistic."
Antrim hurlers won't be selected until later tonight for Sunday's Ulster final replay. The team took a number of injuries into last weekend's drawn match against Down and there are still concerns about some high-profile players: Jim Connolly (ankle), Colm McGuckian (knee), Brian McFall (thigh strain) and Liam Watson, who is away on a week's holiday as well as carrying a knee injury.
Tomorrow's All-Ireland B hurling fixture between Meath and Roscommon will be played at St Loman's, Mullingar, at 4.30.
WEXFORD (SF v Kilkenny): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D Ryan, D O'Connor; R McCarthy, D Ruth, J O'Connor; A Fenlon, T Mahon; B Lambert, E Quigley, P Carley; M Jordan, M Jacob, R Jacob.
LIMERICK (SF v Waterford): AN Other; M O'Riordan, J McCarthy, T Stack; C Mullane, S Lucey, D Reidy; J Quane, J Galvin; AN Other, M Gavin, M O'Brien; C Fitzgerald, O Keating, M Reidy.
CAVAN (SF v Armagh): E Elliott; C Collins, D Rabbit, P Brady; A Forde, A Gaynor, K Crotty; P McKenna, T Crowe; L Reilly, M Lyng, M McKeever; J O'Reilly, D McCabe, G Pearson. Subs: A Donohue, P Reilly, E Reilly, S Johnston, S Maguire, M Brides, A Coleman, R Donohoe, S Brady, C McGovern, S Smith, S Cole, E Jackson, F O'Reilly, N Walsh.
