Joe Rabbitte, who suffered a fractured skull in the Connacht final last July, is back in the Galway team for Sunday's National Hurling League match against Limerick on Sunday. Rabbitte, who spent a number of days in hospital following the match against Roscommon, has made a remarkable recovery and has proved to the Galway selectors and his medical advisers that he is ready for action again. At one stage it seemed likely that he would never play the game again.

The Galway team manager, Cyril Farrell said last night that everyone in Galway was delighted that he was back. "It is a major boost for our players because Joe is a very popular figure, apart from being a very valuable hurler. He will be a great influence on the side and I believe his presence could play a major part in the outcome." In the absence of Brian Feeney, who is suspended, Galway have drafted in Liam Hodgins to the full back position. Liam Burke and Nigel Shaughnessy will team up at midfield. Kevin Broderick is injured and did not make the team.

Galway have named a very strong half-forward line of Justin Campbell, Michael Coleman and Joe McGrath. Darragh Coen, Rabbitte and Ollie Fahy man the full forward line. Gary Kirby is selected in the unusual position for him of left half-forward in the Limerick side. Another surprise is the selection of T J Ryan at centre half-back. He normally plays in the attack for the county but he has experience in the defensive position and plays there for his club, Garyspillane. In the absence of Mike Houlihan, who is injured, Ciaran Carey moves to midfield to partner Shane O'Neill.

A notable feature of the team is that there are three sets of brothers in the side: Mike and Declan Nash, who play in the full back line, Jack and Mark Foley and Jamesie and Ollie Moran, who play in the full forward line. There are two changes from the side which beat Kilkenny in the semi-final. Kirby comes back into the side after injury, replacing Frankie Carroll, while Mark Foley will play at centre half forward with Dave Hennessy joining Carroll on the subs bench.

Meanwhile, Limerick may have to move quickly if they want to find a replacement for manager Tom Ryan, whose period in office ends on Sunday after the League final.

Limerick play Waterford in the opening round of the Oireachtas competition on Sunday week. The question of management is on the agenda for next Tuesday night's meeting of the Limerick board.

Limerick (SH v Galway): J Quaid; S McDonagh, M Nash, D Nash; D Clarke, T J Ryan, J Foley; C Carey, Shane O'Neill; M Galligan, M Foley, B Foley; J Moran, O Moran, G Kirby. Subs: A Shanahan, F Carroll, T O'Brien, D Hennessy, A Browne, J Flavin, B Tobin, P Coleman, N Doolin.

Galway (SH v Limerick): P Costello; G Kennedy, L Hodgin, V Maher; B Keogh, C Moore, M Donoghue; L Burke, N Shaughnessy; J Campbell, M Coleman, J McGrath; D Coen, J Rabbitte, O Fahy.

Clare's Ger Loughnane and Tipperary's Len Gaynor are scheduled to appear before a meeting of the Munster Council in Limerick this evening to answer charges that they came on to the pitch during the recent Munster hurling final.

Both managers were originally to be asked to attend the council's September meeting. Since both were involved in the preparation of their teams for the All-Ireland final, they asked that the matter be deferred.

Kilmacud Crokes player, Michael Dillon returns to the Wexford senior football team for their All-Ireland B championship quarter-final game with Clare in New Ross tomorrow.

Dillon has been out of the intercounty scene following a serious knee injury received against Carlow in last year's championship. Also back in the Wexford side is Scott Doran, who has spent the last two months in Boston.

Wexford (SF v Clare): J Cooper; D Redmond, P Harrington, P Wallace; L O'Brien, M Dunne, D Breen; M Dillon, J Berry; R Kinsella, D Kent, O Kinlough; S Doran, M Mahon, J Lawlor.