Clancy is only Clare change

Clare have made just one change for the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Galway at Croke Park on Sunday. Conor Clancy has been named at full forward instead of Ronan O'Hara.

Clancy came on as a substitute for O'Hara in the Munster final against Cork when O'Hara unexpectedly lined out at full forward having been named in the substitutes when the team was named earlier that week. P J O'Connell, who had to make way for O'Hara that day, is not included for Sunday's game.

Ollie Baker, who aggravated an ankle ligament injury during the Cork match, is chosen at midfield alongside Colin Lynch. Enda Flannery keeps his place in an attack that will be without Jamesie O'Connor who broke his arm in the Munster final.

Meanwhile, Galway will field the team which beat Roscommon convincingly in the Connacht final, which means that Joe Rabbitte and Joe Cooney, who returned to the county colours in that game, retain their places at centre forward and midfield respectively.

There were concerns about right half back Nigel Shaughnessy, but his hamstring problem has cleared up and he was given a clean bill of health after training last night.

There was also a slight worry about Eugene Cloonan but the finger injury he picked up against Roscommon has cleared up. The list of substitutes will be released later.

Antrim, who play Offaly in the opening quarter-final at Croke Park on Sunday, make just one change in personnel and a few positional changes.

Sean Paul McKillop, who came on as a substitute in the Ulster final against Derry and scored a significant goal, retains his place. Colm McGuckian, who lined out at centre forward against Derry but who was later switched to the defence, is now selected at midfield.

With McKillop coming in at corner forward, Brendan McGarry is the player to lose out. Jim Close moves from midfield to left half forward.

Offaly continue to worry about a number of players, including Joe Dooley and John Troy. They can't take Antrim for granted and the defeat by Antrim in the 1989 semi-final will, no doubt, be at the back of their minds.

Meanwhile, the upward trend in attendances in the hurling championship has continued. The total turnout at Leinster and Munster championship games this season is up 3,127 on 1998 figures.

The total attendance at the Leinster championship this season was 104,117, compared with 93,568 last year and 138,782 in 1997. This year's total in Munster was 213,267, compared with 221,689 last year and 146,935 in 1997.

The Munster figures for this season and last year were boosted by two replays - Clare v Waterford in 1998 and Clare v Tipperary this year.

With three matches being staged at Croke Park on Sunday - one minor (Galway v Clare) and the two senior quarter-finals - it has been decided that entrance will be by ticket only. Tickets will be on general sale from the ticket office on Jones' Road from 9.0 a.m. to 6.0 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday. Hogan and New Stand seats cost £12 while tickets for Hill 16 are £8. Senior citizens and students with identification will be admitted to the Nally Stand for £5 provided that they present themselves before 1.30 on match day.