Byrne exits in Kilkenny rejig

Kilkenny have dropped All-Star forward Denis Byrne among three changes for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Galway at Croke Park. He is replaced by John Power, who returns after missing the Leinster final defeat of Wexford because of injury. This means John Hoyne, Power's replacement and who was sent off in that match, retains his place.

Stephen Grehan also comes into the team, in place of Canice Brennan, with Brian McEvoy dropping back from wing forward to centrefield. In defence Peter Barry is back as expected after injury in place of Seβn Dowling.

Whereas Power's and Barry's return was expected, Byrne's departure comes as some surprise. In the corresponding fixture last year, Byrne was in excellent form and ended up with eight points. His form hasn't been at the same high level this year and obviously manager Brian Cody and his selectors decided it was time to act.

Grehan is also a bit of a surprise. He was dropped before last year's final after revelations he had played in a soccer match the previous weekend.

Tipperary, meanwhile, have made no changes for Saturday's semi-final replay against Wexford also at Croke Park. There is a vacancy at left wing back but it is the same vacancy as was left at centrefield last week and will be filled by Paul Kelly, who continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.

The team will be the same as lined out last weekend. This means Kelly, if fit, will play in the half backs, Eddie Enright at centrefield and John Carroll at centre forward. Kelly will be tested on Saturday morning to see if he is able to play. He came off during the drawn match but isn't believed to have done too much further damage.

"Paul aggravated the hamstring a little," said county PRO Liz Howard, "but he hasn't trained all week, has had treatment and rest so we're hopeful he'll be able to start."

Wexford make one change in personnel and a number of positional switches. Ger Coleman replaces Trevor Kelly but is named at left wing back with Larry O'Gorman moving to centrefield where he played so well in the drawn match. Long-serving centre back Liam Dunne finished last Sunday on the wing and is named there in a swap with Declan Ruth. Whether this comes to pass remains to be seen.

Darren Stamp ended up at wing back but is named in the forwards. Again a change here could be on the cards. The one change that had been speculated on hasn't happened. Gary Laffan had been mentioned as a possible starter at full forward with Nicky Lambert moving to centrefield but Tony Dempsey and his selectors have left well alone.

A former Limerick county footballer collapsed and died while assisting his club in a junior championship game in Kerry on Tuesday night. He was Eugene Leonard, who gave over a decade of service to Limerick and was on the team which ran Kerry to two points in the 1991 Munster senior final.

The late Mr Leonard, a garda based in Castleisland, was playing for the local Desmonds club in Tralee when he collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Tralee General Hospital. He was aged 42.

KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, JJ Delaney; P Larkin, E Kennedy, P Barry; A Comerford, B McEvoy; J Hoyne, J Power, S Grehan; C Carter, DJ Carey, H Shefflin.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; T Costello, P Maher, P Ormond; E Corcoran, D Kennedy, AN Other; T Dunne, E Enright; M O'Leary, J Carroll, B O'Meara; E Kelly, D Ryan, L Corbett.

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; D O'Connor, D Ryan, R Mallon; L Dunne, D Ruth, G Coleman; A Fenlon, L O'Gorman; D Stamp, L Murphy, R McCarthy; P Codd, N Lambert, R McCarthy.

GALWAY: M Crimmins; G Kennedy, M Healy, O Canning; D hardiman, L Hodgins, C Moore; D Tierney, R Murray; J Rabbitte, M Kerins, K Broderick; A Kerins, E Cloonan, AN Other.

Limerick SHC draw: Patrickswell (holders) v Doon; Adare v Kilmallock; Garryspillane v Murroe or Monaleen; Na Piarsaigh v Bruree.