Clare have appointed Brian Lohan as captain of the county's hurlers for the coming championship. Lohan, 28 this year, has been an inspirational presence at full back since the county's breakthrough in the early 1990s. He succeeds Anthony Daly who has led the county to all of their successes since 1995, including two All-Irelands and three Munster titles.
There will be surprise at the decision but despite Daly's stature within the team, the move is regarded by the county management as a logical progression in a season when the team has acquired new selectors and new sponsors. Colin Lynch will succeed Lohan as vice-captain of the team.
During the recent National League campaign, both Daly and Lohan were injured for many of the fixtures. Whenever Daly played, he captained the team but the honour also fell to David Fitzgerald, Colin Lynch and Ollie Baker at various stages.
There will, however, be little questioning of Lohan's credentials. He was an All Star nomination at corner back in 1994 despite Clare's heavy defeat by Limerick in the Munster final. A year later when the county broke through at both provincial and All-Ireland level, Lohan had made the full back position his own and was Hurler of the Year.
For the next two seasons, he was indisputably the best full back in the country.
Meath have delayed selecting a team for Sunday's National Football League final against Derry at Croke Park. Full back Darren Fay is still doubtful because of a niggling back injury and his difficulties were compounded by flu preventing him from training last week.
Centre back Anthony Moyles is troubled by a leg injury, midfielder Nigel Nestor still hasn't shaken off the hamstring injury picked up in the semi-final defeat of Kerry whereas Paul Shankey, corner back the last day, is definitely out with a broken bone in his foot.
Opponents Derry will not now name their side until tomorrow evening.
Meanwhile Dublin hurlers introduce four newcomers to championship hurling for Saturday's trip to Carlow. Half back Declan McInerney, centre forward Gordon Glynn, left half forward Damien Russell and full forward Ciaran Brady all make their debut.
Right corner back Liam O'Donoghue has appeared as a substitute but this weekend will be his first start.
Laois have made substantial changes to the team hammered by Kilkenny in last year's championship. Six debutants are included in the team which travels to Mullingar to take on Westmeath.
John Lyons, in goal, half backs Pat Mahon and Donncha Dowling, left half forward Joe Phelan, right corner forward Anthony Coffey and full forward James Young all come in for a first championship start.
As expected those players who sat out the league until the resignation of former manager Padraig Horan - the Cuddys, Paul, Cyril and David, and Niall Rigney - are included, as is former captain John O'Sullivan.
Offaly's line-out for Sunday's Division Two league final shows just one definite change to the side which came from behind to defeat Cavan in the semi-final. Vinny Claffey, who made a major impact on his introduction, is named at centre forward in place of dual player John Ryan whom he replaced on Easter Sunday.
A vacancy is left at full forward where Roy Malone lined out the last day.
LAOIS (SH v Westmeath): J Lyons; PJ Peacock, B Maher, J O'Sullivan; P Mahon, P Cuddy, D Dowling; C Cuddy, N Rigney; D Rooney, D Cuddy, J Phelan; A Coffey, J Young, F O'Sullivan.
DUBLIN (SH v Carlow): B McLaughlin; L O'Donoghue, L Walsh, C McCann; J Finnegan, S Perkins, D McInerney; D Sweeney, M Fitzsimons; S Martin, G Glynn, D Russell; T McGrane, C Brady, G Ennis.
WICKLOW (SF v Carlow): T Murphy; S Nolan, B O'Donovan, T Burke; B O hAnnaidh, M Coffey, B Whelan; B Sheehan, S O'Neill; T Harney, K O'Brien, T Hannon; T Gill, R Coffey, T Doyle.
OFFALY (SF v Louth): P Kelly; C Daly, B Malone, J Brady; J Kilmurray, S Grennan, F Cullen; J Grennan, R Mooney; C Quinn, V Claffey, C McManus; P Kelleghan, AN Other, D Connolly.
