All three Whelahan brothers have been included on the Offaly team to meet Galway in their opening National Hurling League fixture at Birr on Sunday.
Barry Whelahan joins his brother Simon on the full-back line, deputising in the left corner for Martin Hanamy who, along with fellow-veteran Joe Dooley, is taking a break from hurling. Also missing from the side which started against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final last September are Kevin Kinahan, Michael Duignan, Billy Dooley and Gary Hanniffy.
Into the side in addition to Barry Whelahan come Niall Claffey, Ger Oakley, Daithi Regan, Paudie Mulhare and John Ryan.
Wexford club champions Rathnure expect to be at full strength when they take on Ballygalget from Down in the All-Ireland club hurling championship at Parnell Park on Sunday. Some concern surrounds the fitness of midfielder Michael O'Leary, who has a knee problem.
Meanwhile, Athenry are considering an appeal to the Games Administration Committee in Croke Park in regard to their defeat by a single point by St Joseph's, Doora-Barefield in the All-Ireland club hurling semi-final at Thurles last Sunday.
The club is convinced that an attempt at a point by Cathal Moran three minutes before the end which was flagged wide was actually valid. Had it been given as a point it would have earned Athenry a draw.
The club is seeking videotape evidence that Moran's effort was valid.
Moran is convinced that his effort was on target. "I am absolutely certain that my shot was at least two feet inside the post and over the bar," he said.
"It would be terrible if we were to lose the match like this and I am convinced that a replay would be the best solution to the problem. My shot from the right touchline was very high and the umpires were not in a great position and I believe the linesmen should have been consulted."
The referee, Pat Horan, consulted the umpires as Athenry claimed the score but ruled that the ball had gone wide, leaving the Clare side ahead by 1-13 to 1-12 at the end of a very closely-fought match.
The chances of a review or overturning of the result seem unlikely.
The National Football League has a full programme of matches at the weekend with the holders of the league title, Offaly, virtually out of the competition and with Kerry and Wicklow looking like realistic candidates for the play offs.
Kerry will be without Maurice Fitzgerald and Dara O Cinneide, who have knee and ankle problems respectively, for their match with Limerick. Pa Laide and Mike Frank Russell are also out of action because of injury, although both are reported to be making good progress.
Meanwhile, the Dublin County Board is to consider designating the match between Dublin and All-Ireland champions Galway as an all-ticket game. The match, which is fixed for March 14th, will be played at Parnell Park and is likely to be a complete sell-out.
In other circumstances the match would be played at Croke Park, but with the All-Ireland club football and hurling finals fixed for headquarters on Martch 17th it is believed that the GAA authorities would not want to risk the playing of three matches in Croke Park within the space of three days at this time of the year.
