Limerick manager Eamonn Cregan has selected half of last year's victorious All-Ireland under-21s for Sunday's NHL opener against Antrim at the Gaelic Grounds. Damien Reale and Paul O'Grady will make their competitive debuts for the senior team which also includes Mark Keane, Michael O'Brien, Brian Begley, James Butler and goalkeeper Timmy Houlihan from the under-21 side.
Wexford have left two vacancies on the side announced to play Laois in Rathdowney on Sunday. It will be teams' second meeting in eight days after last weekend's Walsh Cup final. Larry O'Gorman is expected to be handed the fullforward role. It's been an eventful couple of weeks for the 1996 GAA Writers' Hurler of the Year who gave an outstanding defensive display at wing back last Sunday.
A week previously he came on as a substitute at full forward during the semi-final against Dublin and scored an excellent goal, and a point. There is also a vacancy at left wing back as the selectors await fitness tests on Declan Ruth and Sean Flood. Darragh Ryan from St Anne's, the county double champions, has been named as captain. Ryan will play at centreback with Liam Dunne moving to right wing back.
The team features three newcomers to this level: centrefielder Rory Stafford, left half forward Michael Jacob and in front of him, Barry Goff in the left corner.
NHL holders Galway delay naming a side until tomorrow evening for the match with Offaly at Birr. Kevin Broderick will definitely be missing as will the Athenry contingent ahead of the All-Ireland club semi-final later in the month.
Clare name tonight and are expected to select a strong side for the visit of newly-promoted Meath. A 40-strong League training panel was announced last week and contrary to earlier speculation, it features no notable absentees. Anthony Daly is unlikely to play as his wife has recently had a child but Daly is on the panel. All of last year's championship squad plus PJ O'Connell are involved this year under new manager Cyril Lyons.
LIMERICK (SH v Antrim) - T Houlihan; S McDonogh, TJ Ryan, D Reale; J Foley, B Geary, M Foley; M O'Brien, J Moran; P O'Grady, O Moran, M Keane; J Butler, B Begley, B Foley. Subs: A Shanahan, P Reale, D Ryan, J Meskell, D Stapleton, P Lawlor, S O'Connor.
WEXFORD (SH v Laois) - D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, R Guiney, D Guiney; L Dunne, D Ryan, AN Other; A Fenlon, R Stafford; R McCarthy, M Byrne, M Jacob; B Goff, AN Other, C McGrath.
ROSCOMMON (SH v Carlow) - D Casey; J Mulvey, M Mulry, N Cunniffe; L Murray, M Healy, P Finneran; C Kelly, L Gately; M Cunniffe, D Lohan (Capt.), M Connaughton; L Casey, A Kelly, S Sweeney.
