Midfield spot for Decies debutant Hartley

THE Waterford selectors have sprung a major surprise by handing Portlaw’s Jack Hartley his debut at midfield for Sunday’s vital Division 1B National Hurling League game against Offaly in Birr.

Teenager Kevin Moran, who seemed to have nailed down the full-back berth as his own, midfielder Dave Bennett, and wing-forward Eoin McGrath are all left out from the side that scored a runaway victory over Down last time out.

Hartley is the direct replacement for Bennett, James Murray returns in defence after illness kept him out of the Down game, while McGrath makes way for his Mount Sion clubmate Eoin Kelly who has now fully recovered from the ankle injury he picked up in the early stages of last month’s league game against Clare.