Kilkenny include Carter and McEvoy

CHAMPIONSHIP 2002/Leinster SH final: Charlie Carter is back in the Kilkenny team for Sunday's Leinster hurling final against Wexford at Croke Park. His reintroduction at left corner forward is one of two changes from the team that beat Offaly in the semi-final last month.

Stephen Grehan is the man to lose out but after Carter's huge impact in the semi-final win in Thurles it was always expected that manager Brian Cody would make the change. Carter replaced Grehan after 43 minutes against Offaly and scored four points from play.

Though he had sat out the entire league, it was a spectacular return to form for the Young Irelands player. His four points in Thurles came from just four attempts and it meant that over the past two Leinster championships Carter had missed just one shot at a score (ironically, Damien Fitzhenry's save in last year's Leinster final).

The only other change sees Brian McEvoy return to the starting line-up in place of Pat Tennyson, who was ruled out because of an ankle injury.

Tennyson started at midfield the last day but team captain Andy Comerford moves back from wing forward to fill the vacancy alongside Derek Lyng, with McEvoy starting on the left wing.

McEvoy was also introduced in the semi-final win over Offaly, also replacing Tennyson on that occasion, and played a similarly decisive role with two points from play. Like Carter, he too missed much of the league but that was through suspension rather than hibernation.

The entire defence, not surprisingly, is unchanged. Grehan, meanwhile, will join players like John Power and Brian Dowling on the bench.

The GAA, meanwhile, yesterday issued a statement in reference to recent comments by some inter-county officials wishing to play games in Croke Park on consecutive days. According to GAA headquarters, the new pitch in Croke Park was brought from building site to readiness to play on in approximately six weeks. This, they said, was achieved through the most modern techniques, experience and advice and through careful nurturing of the surface from a scientific premise."

The statement continued: "The experts who laid the pitch were adamant in their advice that following the first programme of games on the 23rd June, the pitch should be allowed rest and settle for a further two weeks. Also, under no circumstances should it be over-used on one event or used on consecutive days in the short term."

Tickets for Sunday's Leinster final will be on sale from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand next Saturday morning from 10.0 to 12.0.

KILKENNY (SH v Wexford): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, A Comerford; J Hoyne, H Shefflin, B McEvoy; E Brennan, M Comerford, C Carter.