Sport

Walsh makes way as Kilkenny call on Carey

MICHAEL WALSH was a surprise omission last night when Kilkenny named their side to play Clare at Ennis on Sunday in Division …

By SEAN MORAN
Wed Feb 14 1996 - 00:00

MICHAEL WALSH was a surprise omission last night when Kilkenny named their side to play Clare at Ennis on Sunday in Division One of the National Hurling League. Martin Carey, brother of full forward DJ, was awarded the goalkeeper's jersey in place of the long-serving Walsh.

Clare will rest corner back Michael O'Halloran for the meeting of last year's National League and All-Ireland champions. O'Halloran received a knock in Sixmilebridge's All-Ireland club semi-final victory on Sunday. His place is taken by Brian Quinn. Brian Lohan, 1995 player of the year, returns for his first League match after a hamstring injury. At left corner forward, Barry Murphy starts his first League match.

Leinster champions Offaly give a League debut to Seir Kieran goalkeeper Liam Coughlan - a younger brother of Eugene's - for Sunday's match against Galway. Usual first-choice David Hughes is rested. Joe Errity, better known as cover for the full-back line, maintains his recent change-of-direction and is named at full forward, a position in which he has played during recent months. He scored two goals against Wexford in the Walsh Cup at the weekend.

Cork's selectors have chosen a fairly predictable starting 15 for Sunday's Division One match against Tipperary in Pairc Ui Rinn. However, Barry Egan does make his first League appearance this season after sustaining a hand injury in the autumn.

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Pat Fox and Nicky English were ruled out of the Tipperary team. Fox has been sidelined with a calf muscle injury while English is unable to play because of ankle trouble.

Limerick have named 12 of their 1994 All-Ireland final team for the meeting with Wexford. Stephen McDonagh and Damien Quigley return for their first matches of the campaign while Mike Houlihan, who missed most of the pre-Christmas fixtures, is also included. Houlihan's partner at midfield is Frankie Carroll, who usually lines out at wing forward.

Two of Meath's football reserves have dropped out of the county panel. Enda McManus and Alan Finnegan informed manager Sean Boylan of their decision last week and neither were on the bench when the team lost its first match of the campaign to Kildare last weekend. "I am a little bit cheesed off with things at the moment and I have dropped myself from the county panel," said McManus.