Athenry will have to make their attempt on a record-equalling fourth All-Ireland club hurling title without their established full back Diarmuid Cloonan, who has picked up a 12-week suspension for being sent off in last month's semi-final against Tipperary and Munster champions Toomevara.
The Games Administration Committee (GAC) announced their decision yesterday. Cloonan was dismissed in the second half together with Toomevara's John O'Brien for an off-the-ball incident. He will also miss the remainder of Galway's National Hurling League campaign.
Athenry manager Billy Caulfield said that the team would now be concentrating on the task of defeating Kilkenny's James Stephens.
"We respect the referee's decision," said Caulfield. "Obviously we are very disappointed for Diarmuid that he will miss such a big day in the club's history. But at this stage we must accept the decision and move on. We now need to work out how we can win this All-Ireland without Diarmuid's influence.
"We now need to concentrate on the job in hand against James Stephens and do everything we can to ensure that Athenry are again crowned All-Ireland club champions."
The GAA have also announced the details of the club finals. Athenry will play James Stephens at 2pm and Ballina Stephenites will play Portlaoise in the football final at 3.40pm.
Other suspensions announced by the GAC include: four weeks for Nigel Crawford (Meath), Eamon Breen of Finuge (Kerry), Pierce McKenna (Cavan), Barry McGinn (Wolfe Tones), David Poinard (Leitrim), John O'Dwyer (Derry), Richie Grimes (Robert Emmets).
Meanwhile, Kerry replace their centrefield for tomorrow evening's National Football League match against Dublin in Tralee. The new-look pairing will be Tomás Ó Sé and Kieran Donaghy. Ó Sé moves up from defence to replace his brother Darragh, with Tom O'Sullivan coming into the team. Donaghy replaces William Kirby.
Enda McGinley has been handed a surprising new challenge by Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. An All-Irleand winner at corner forward two seasons ago, McGinley has been named at full back on the side to face Offaly in Sunday's National Football League Division One A tie at Omagh.
It will be a first league outing of the season for the Errigal Ciaran man, who suffered an ankle injury in a Dr McKenna Cup game in early January, and only made his comeback as a substitute in the same competition less than two weeks ago.
His inclusion is one of five changes from the team which defeated Dublin in the last league game. John Devine replaces Pascal McConnell in goal, and in the full back line Michael McGee comes in for Eoghan Bradley. Brendan Donnelly is preferred to Brian Robinson at half back, and in attack Ryan Mellon gives way to Colm McCullagh.
Captain Brian Dooher returns after missing the McKenna Cup final because of a leg gash which required six stitches following the clash with Dublin.
TYRONE (v Offaly): J Devine; R McMenamin, E McGinley, M McGee; C Gormley, G Devlin, B Donnelly; B Meenan, P Donnelly; B Dooher, S O'Neill, S Cavanagh; M Coleman, O Mulligan, C McCullagh.
KERRY (SF v Dublin): D Murphy; M Ó Sé, T O'Sullivan, M Lyons; A O'Mahony, E Fitzmaurice, S Moynihan; K Donaghy, T Ó Sé; P Galvin, E Brosnan, P Kelly; D Quill R O'Connor, C Cooper. Subs: K Cremin, W Kirby, D Ó Sé, B Guiney, M Quirke, N Kennelly, L Hassett, D Ó Cinnéide, M McCarthy,
WEXFORD (SF v Limerick): J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; R Mageean, D Murphy, S Cullen; D Kinsella, B Doyle; D Fogarty, P Colfer, J Hegarty; R Barry, J Hudson (capt), M Forde
TIPPERARY (SF v Meath): P Fitzgerald; D Byrne, N Curran, P King; P Morrissey, B Lacey, C Maher; F O'Callaghan, E Hanrahan; G Burke, P Foley, P Cahill; I Barnes, D Browne, D Byrne.
WESTMEATH (SF v Donegal): G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D Heavin; R O'Connell, J Brennan; D Mitchell, M Flanagan, C Galligan; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan.
