New faces on Wexford team

Wexford introduce two championship newcomers for Sunday's Leinster hurling semi-final against Offaly at Nowlan Park. Richie Kehoe of the Faythe Harriers club, who is eligible for the under-21 grade for another year, will start at right half back in an otherwise familiar looking Wexford defence.

Stephen Doyle from Oulart-The-Ballagh, a member of last year's All-Ireland-winning intermediate team, also starts for the first time at right corner forward with Des Mythen ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Manager Séamus Murphy was always likely to introduce some newcomers after a number of high-profile withdrawals. Among them was midfielder Adrian Fenlon, who retired, and also regular full back Darragh Ryan.

David O'Connor now holds down the full back position, having played there throughout the league, with Malachy Travers moving from the half back line to the corner. Kehoe comes into the half back line alongside regulars Declan Ruth and Diarmuid Lyng.

Darren Stamp has recovered from a hand injury to take his place at midfield alongside Tomás Mahon, with former midfielder Rory McCarthy now playing at left half forward. Doyle, meanwhile, joins Michael Jordan and Rory Jacob in the full forward line.

Earlier in the week, Offaly manager John McIntyre announced one change to the team that splashed past Laois in the Leinster quarter-final, with Dylan Hayden named at midfield in an indirect swap with wing back Declan Tanner, as Ger Oakley moves to midfield.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has taken no chances with the strength of his team to face Westmeath in the other semi-final, set for Cusack Park in Mullingar tomorrow evening. Westmeath have never beaten Kilkenny in championship, yet Cody is clearly treating them with full respect and named probably his strongest possible line-up.

There are three changes from Kilkenny's last outing - their victory in the National Hurling League final against Limerick back on April 30th - with Willie O'Dwyer, Eoin McCormack and Donncha Cody all coming into the starting line-up.

Corner forward Aidan Fogarty was ruled out with a hamstring injury, and Richie Power's ankle, injured in the league final, is still not 100 per cent, prompting Cody to keep him in reserve. Noel Hickey also drops to the bench.

Kilkenny are 1 to 950 for the victory, and that gives a fair idea of the challenge facing Westmeath.

WEXFORD (SH v Offaly): D Fitzhenry; M Travers; D O'Connor, K Rossiter; R Kehoe, D Ruth, D Lyng; T Mahon, D Stamp; M Jacob, E Quigley, R McCarthy; S Doyle, M Jordan, R Jacob.

KILKENNY (SH v Westmeath): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, D Cody; J Tyrrell, J Tennyson, T Walsh; D Lyng, R Mullally; W O'Dwyer, M Comerford, E Larkin; E McCormack, H Shefflin, J Fitzpatrick.