Wexford drop dual star Barry for final test

Team newsWexford's decision to drop Redmond Barry from the starting line-up against Kilkenny in Sunday's Leinster hurling final is highly ironic. To ensure the dual player was available for Sunday's clash, the Wexford County Board wrote to the GAC to request a rescheduling of their football qualifier against Monaghan.

This was accepted and Barry will be available on July 9th for the footballers; but on Sunday he will have to be content with a place on the substitutes' bench.

In omitting Barry from the starting team, Wexford manager Seámus Murphy has shown the sort of ruthless streak that will be required from his charges this weekend.

Paul Carley is his indirect replacement, coming into the half-forward line with Rory McCarthy switching to midfield in place of Barry. Both Carley and Barry had been carrying minor knocks during the week, but have recovered sufficiently to be available for selection.

Malachy Travers and Declan Ruth have also been declared fit to complete a solid half-back line alongside Diarmuid Lyng.

The main injury concern this week was Michael Jordan, but the physio gave his groin problem the all-clear yesterday afternoon. He plays at full forward with the two Jacob brothers, Michael and Rory, in the corners.

It was the captain this Sunday, Michael Jacob, who struck the last-minute winning goal to shock Kilkenny in last year's Leinster semi-final and put Wexford on the road to their first provincial title in seven years.

Kilkenny will name their side tonight with the only concern surrounding the well-being of Derek Lyng.

In the football and hurling qualifiers, several managers postponed naming a team until the weekend as their respective injury lists begin to mount up.

However Waterford have a full-strength panel for for the visit of Dublin to Walsh Park tomorrow evening. The fit-again Dave Bennett must be content with a place on the bench. He has fully recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the Munster semi-final defeat to Cork.

Ken McGrath has been named at centre back despite starting the recent qualifier against Offaly in midfield, with corner back James Murray switched to McGrath's regular berth. The experiment was abandoned, though, in the second half when Offaly began to bypass the middle third.

Meanwhile, Kildare manager Pádraig Nolan has been forced to make four changes from the side heavily beaten by Laois in the Leinster semi-final ahead of tomorrow's qualifier against Sligo.

James Lonergan is suspended, while Glenn Ryan, Mick Wright and Derek McCormack join Stuart McKenzie-Smith on the injury list. Nolan brings in Pádraig Mullarkey at full back and Damien Hendy at centre back.

Westmeath are not naming a team until the weekend; manager Páidí Ó Sé must plan without leading forward Dessie Dolan, his brother Gary, Paul Conway, former All Star midfielder Rory O'Connell and James Davitt.

Meath should finalise a team this morning for the game against Leitrim with Ollie Murphy back in contention to start. However, Trevor Giles, Shane McKeigue and Brian O'Reilly are not available, while Daithí Regan is out for the remainder of the championship after damaging his back against Dublin.

Galway hurlers have made just one change for tomorrow's qualifier against Antrim at Pearse Stadium. Centre forward David Forde has been ruled out and is replaced by Kevin Hayes while Niall Healy starts at full forward.

Injury also rules out Eugene Cloonan, Kevin Broderick and former minor captain John Lee.

WEXFORD (SH v Kilkenny): D Fitzhenry; K Rossiter, D Ryan, D O'Connor; M Travers, D Ruth, D Lyng; A Fenlon, R McCarthy; P Carley, E Quigley, D Mythen; M Jacob, M Jordan, R Jacob.

WATERFORD (SH v Dublin): S Brenner; T Feeney, F Hartley, J Murray; T Browne, K McGrath, E Murphy; B Phelan, E Kelly; D Shanahan, M Walsh, P Flynn; J Mullane, S Prendergast, W McGrath.

GALWAY (SH v Antrim): L Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, C Coen; G Mahon, D Hardiman, O Canning; T Regan, D Collins; R Murray, K Hayes, D Tierney; D Hayes, N Healy, G Farragher.

KILDARE (SF v Sligo): E Murphy; A Rainbow, P Mullarkey, A McLoughlin; D Lyons, D Hendy, K Ennis; K Brennan, M Foley; R Glavin, D Earley, J Kavanagh; T Fennin, R Sweeney, J Doyle.