Experienced duo return for Cork

TEAM NEWS:SEÁN Óg Ó hAilpín and Ronan Curran both return to the Cork half back line for Saturday's hurling qualifier showdown against Galway in Thurles.

Neither player started last Saturday's hard-earned win over Dublin because of injury - though Curran did come on for the last 10 minutes. Gerald McCarthy is taking no chances this time, restoring the most experienced half-back line in the country, with Kieran McGann and Eoin Cadogen the players to make way.

In one further switch, Patrick Cronin comes back into the forward line in place of Neil Ronan, who drops to the bench. Ben O'Connor is named at right corner forward alongside Joe Deane and Cathal Naughton, with Niall and Timmy McCarthy in the half forward line next to Cronin.

Offaly wing back Diarmuid Horan is almost certainly out of Saturday's other hurling qualifier against Waterford, also in Thurles. The St Rynagh's clubman was carried off with six minutes remaining against Limerick in last Saturday's surprise victory at the Gaelic Grounds.

Horan's injury has been diagnosed as a badly-sprained ankle. James Rigney replaced Horan last weekend and is expected to reclaim a place in the team after starting at midfield against Laois and Kilkenny in the Leinster championship.

Elsewhere, Dublin have broken from their usual routine and delayed the naming of their starting line-up to face Wexford in Sunday's Leinster football final at Croke Park.

Manager Paul Caffrey is giving Colin Moran the chance to go before the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) in a final effort to have his four-week suspension overturned ahead of the game.

Moran was suspended after the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) requested referee Padraig Hughes to review an incident with Westmeath's Dermot Bannon in last month's semi-final, which led to him up- grading the yellow card he showed to Moran at the time to red.

Moran went before the Central Hearings Committee and then last Thursday to the Central Appeals Committee to have that decision overturned, but failed on both counts, and the DRA represents the last stop to have him cleared in time for Sunday.

The DRA, in fact, met last night to hear the case of Kerry's Paul Galvin, who is bidding to have his six-month ban overturned, or at least reduced, following the infamous incident with referee Paddy Russell back in the Munster semi-final against Clare.

The outcome of that case will be known today, and unless the DRA agree to reduce the ban, Galvin will play no part in the remainder of the football championship - no matter how far Kerry progress.

Moran's case is to be heard separately, possibly tomorrow evening, and in the meantime Caffrey delayed the naming of his starting 15. It is expected, however, that Ciarán Whelan will make his first start of the championship at midfield, in place of Eamonn Fennell.

Should Moran fail to get his ban overturned, Paul Casey is almost certain to start in the half back line alongside Bryan Cullen and Barry Cahill, although there is still come doubt over whether Caffrey will persist with full back Ross McConnell, who was badly exposed by Westmeath's Denis Glennon the last day, while Diarmuid Connolly is likely to start for Bernard Brogan, who is still carrying a hamstring injury.

Wexford, who are bidding for a first Leinster title since 1949, will announce their team after training tomorrow evening, with manager Jason Ryan no injuries to report. Throw-in at Croke Park is 4pm (or thereabouts), with GAA headquarters heading for its first capacity crowd of the year.

Laois manager Liam Kearns is battling a midfield crisis ahead of their football qualifier against Longford. Brendan Quigley was returning to full fitness following a work accident last month, but has since sustained an ankle injury.

Pádraig Clancy is ruled out through suspension having been sent off against Wexford, while Kevin Meaney is another non-starter after damaging his hamstring in a challenge game against Cavan. Defender Joe Higgins is missing with a hamstring injury.

CORK(SH v Galway): D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg O hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; P Cronin, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; B O'Connor, J Deane, C Naughton.