Wexford make four changes

Larry O'Gorman has returned to the Wexford team for Saturday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier against neighbours Waterford.

Larry O'Gorman has returned to the Wexford team for Saturday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier against neighbours Waterford.

His recall is one of four changes to the side beaten by Kilkenny in the Leinster final.

Waterford also make changes with Peter Queally and Dan Shanahan coming into the starting line-up.

O'Gorman is named at centrefield with Darren Stamp moving back to wing back and Keith Rossiter losing out. Dave Guiney comes in at corner back in place of Colm Kehoe and in the forwards Micheal Jacob and Chris McGrath are in for Michael Jordan and Donal Berry, respectively.

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Waterford manager Justin McCarthy has also shaken up his selection. Gone are All Star Eoin Kelly, Andy Moloney and Eoin McGrath. Replacing them are Seamus Prendergast, Shanahan and Queally.

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has delayed naming his team for Sunday's Ulster football final replay against Down because of a deepening injury crisis.

Full back Colin Holmes, who missed the drawn match with an ankle injury, continues to struggle for fitness, and to compound the defensive dilemma, his replacement last Sunday, Chris Lawn, is also extremely doubtful.

Lawn suffered a recurrence of a groin injury which caused him to miss almost the entire league campaign, and if both men fail to make the cut, Ciaran Gourley could be in line for a starting slot.

Attackers Gerard Cavlan and Stephen O'Neill also missed last Sunday's game with groin and ankle injuries respectively, and both are in the doubtful category for the rematch.

Meanwhile, the Gaelic Players Association has criticised the decision of Croke Park to press ahead with elections to a players' committee.

GAA president Seán Kelly had stalled on the running of elections to this committee and his decision to press ahead has met the disapproval of the GPA, which at its January a.g.m. called on players not to co-operate with any such elections.

A statement released yesterday by GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell reiterated that stance.

"The GPA has grown dramatically in stature and confidence since its inception, fuelled by the very simple but fundamental principle that players are entitled to objective representation. The motion passed unanimously at our 2003 a.g.m. to boycott elections for a new Croke Park-controlled players' body firmly reasserted the players' conviction that their interests are best served through the autonomous forum of the GPA.

"The message to Croke Park is clear; the players from whom you seek co-operation do not support the principle or the objective of these elections. The players whom you seek to acknowledge and represent have themselves sought and established a valid mandate through the GPA. We do not wish for, or require the establishment of another players' committee.

Farrell went on to promise initiatives dedicated to player welfare.

"In an era of unprecedented and demonstrable player confidence, attempts to unfairly control and dictate to players will meet with individual and collective disapproval through the forum of the GPA.

"The association will continue to agitate and assert itself on behalf of our members, and we look forward to very publicly demonstrating our resources, commitment and intent through soon to be announced initiatives with enormous longer term implications for player welfare."

In other Gaelic games news, Ed Donnelly is the new PRO of the Tipperary County Board. He defeated the outgoing Liz Howard on the casting of lots after the two surviving candidates were tied on the final count of voting.

Howard, a long-serving officer in the post, had resigned over a disagreement with the county board. She withdrew her resignation but a fresh election was ordered.

WEXFORD (SH v Waterford): D Fitzhenry; D Guiney, D Ryan, D O'Connor; D Stamp, D Ruth, L Dunne; L O'Gorman, R McCarthy; B Lambert, A Fenlon, M Jacob; C McGrath, P Codd, R Jacob.

WATERFORD: S Brenner; D Prendergast, T Feeney, J Murray; B Greene, F Hartley, E Murphy; T Browne, P Queally; D Bennett, S Prendergast, K McGrath; J Mullane, D Shanahan, P Flynn.

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times