Wexford show minimal change

ALL-IRELAND champions Wexford show four changes from the side that regained the title last September in their selection for Sunday's opening match of the National Hurling League season against League holders Galway.

Eugene Furlong, Dave Guiney, Robert Hassey and Sean Flood, who missed the All-Ireland because of injury, come into the side replacing John O'Connor, Rod Guiney (twin brother of Dave), George O'Connor who is retired and the injured Martin Storey, last year's captain. There are no positional surprises with Larry O'Gorman, recovered from injury, lining out at centrefield.

Opponents Galway have omitted Athenry players who are currently preparing for their All-Ireland club final on St Patrick's Day. At left wing back, Michael Healy, last summer's hugely impressive minor captain, is one of two debutants. Vinnie Maher, at left half forward, is the other.

Other interesting selections include Willie Burke at full back. Burke looked a fine prospect in University of Limerick's Fitzgibbon Cup win of three years ago, but hasn't appeared much at inter-county level. Veteran Joe Cooney is selected at centre field and Justin Campbell makes a return on the right wing of the attack.

Last weekend's Fitzgibbon finds certain resonances in other team selections. Principally, the Player of the Tournament, John Enright, gets a chance to establish himself in the Tipperary team for whom he is named at right corner forward, his position on the victorious UCC team.

Enright and his brother Eddie have attracted scepticism as to their ability to mix it at senior inter-county level but both of them, John in particular who scored 1-13 in the two matches of the Fitzgibbon, are immensely talented hurlers.

A surprise selection on the team to play Offaly in Nenagh is Pat Maguire. The Lattin-Cullen man did very well when he came on against Waterford last week and is named at midfield. Injury rules out John Leahy, Michael Ryan, Raymie Ryan and Conal Bonnar. Also included is Brian Gaynor, son of new manager Len, who has done very well in recent challenge games and who played for Tipp in the League two years ago.

Limerick were able to pick from an almost full panel for their trip to Kilkenny. Mike Houlihan is injured but otherwise manager Tom Ryan had his first choice available.

Last season's Young Hurler of the Year, Mark Foley, drops back to the corner and Mike Galligan whose omission from the six named substitutes in last September's All-Ireland final, caused a major fuss, comes in at left wing forward.

Pat Heffernan, who didn't play county last season but who would be a considerable addition to the team, is named on the bench.

Clare show a couple of new faces to the NHL with the selection of UCC's centre back Richard Woods at full back and Sixmilebridge's Niall Gilligan at right corner forward. The Lohan brothers are not named, nor are any of the Wolfe Tones players' who face Athenry in the club final

Cork's Ger Cunningham makes his 100th NHL appearance for, Cork in a side that includes two debutants. Pat Mulcahy of county champions Avondhu and Ronan Dwane of runners-up Imokilly come into a new-look side selected without any injury worries.