Clare name Plunkett at centre-back for Cork clash

CLARE captain Sean McMahon’s place at centre-back in the Clare team will be taken by Clarecastle’s Conor Plunkett for Sunday’s Guinness Munster hurling semi-final against Cork in Thurles (4.15).

However, the selectors have decided to leave a vacancy at right half-back with McMahon's club-mate David Hoey ruled out after being injured in the opening minutes of the first-round game against Tipperary.

Plunkett was the player who came in for him.

The selectors resisted the temptation to switch Sean McMahon's cousin Diarmuid who plays at centre-back with Kilmaley from midfield.

He made a major contribution there against Tipperary in his debut game and, as predicted, is again named alongside Colin Lynch.

Sean McMahon misses the game as a result of the month's suspension he received after being red-carded against Tipperary although the recent disciplinary change agreed at Congress meant he was able to play with his club the following night.

Hoey broke his ankle in a clash with Brian Lohan and will be out of action for the next six weeks at least.

Lohan, meanwhile, has made a full recovery from the knee injury he incurred in the incident.

And, his brother Frank takes over the captaincy.

Manager Lyons indicated that they won't decide on who plays at right half-back until the day of the game.

In the meantime, the speculation is that the position rests between the experienced John Reddan, Conor Harrisson (Clooney) and Ger O'Grady from Crusheen.

Meanwhile Tom Kenny, Ronan Curran and Setanta O' h-Ailpin will make their Guinness Munster SHC debuts for Cork on Sunday.

Kenny has been selected at right half back, Curran in the centre half back position and O 'h-Ailpin, younger brother of Sean og's, in the right corner of attack.

Pat Mulcahy holds on to the full back berth with Diarmuid O'Sullivan selected in the left corner back position.

John Gardiner and Micky O'Connell are named as the midfield partnership with Niall McCarthy being entrusted with the centre half forward duties.

Wayne Sherlock beat off all-comers to keep his place at right half back as did Sean Óg, who will wear the number seven shirt.

Ben O'Connor and Timmy McCarthy will occupy the respective wing forwards positions with Joe Deane at full forward and team captain Alan Browne top of the left.

Wexford hurling has been rocked by the decision of one of its most experienced players to emigrate to America just days before the county is due to play Offaly in the Leinster SHC semi-final.

Rory Mallon has informed the selectors he was emigrating to America today despite the fact that he had been training with the county squad up to last Friday.

He will also be unavailable to the county football team who play Derry in the All-Ireland Qualifier at the weekend.

Wexford have decided to hold Darragh Ryan in reserve.

Ryan only recently returned to competitive hurling after a long lay-off stretching back to last September when he had a cruciate knee ligament operation.

The St. Ann's full back will take his place on the bench however with his club colleague David O'Connor manning the number three spot against the Faithful County.

Team boss John Condren will give championship debuts to Keith Rossiter at left corner back and Donal Berry at centre forward. Berry was a substitute for the 1998 and 2000 seasons when Wexford were beaten in the first round by Offaly each time.

There are two vacancies on the team, at right half back and midfield as the selectors wait on fitness reports on Darren Stamp and Rory McCarthy, both of whom are recovering from hamstring injuries.

Rory Jacob will be starting a championship game for the first time at full forward having come off the bench against Kilkenny and Clare last year while it's Barry Goff's first championship start since the 2001 Leinster final.

CORK (SH v Clare): D. og Cusack; W. Sherlock, P. Mulcahy, D. O'Sullivan; T. Kenny, R. Curran, S. og O' h-Ailpin; J. Gardiner, M. O'Connell; B. O'Connor, N. McCarthy, T. McCarthy; S. O' h-Ailpin, J. Deane, A. Browne.

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; B. Quinn, B. Lohan, F. Lohan; A.N. Other, C. Plunkett, G. Quinn; C. Lynch, D. McMahon; A. Markham, N. Gilligan, T. Griffin; T. Carmody, A. Quinn, J. O'Connor. Subs: G. O'Connell, R. O'Looney, C. Harrisson, G. O'Grady, B. Murphy, D. O'Connell, E. Taaffe.

WEXFORD (SH v Offaly): D. Fitzhenry; C. Kehoe, D. O'Connor, K. Rossier; AN Other, D. Ruth, L. Dunne; A. Fenlon, AN Other; P. Codd, D. Berry, B. Goff; B. Lambert, R. Jacob, M. Jordan.