Nugent gets the nod as Clare go all-out for Rebel revenge

CLARE have made just one change from the side that lost to Cork in last season’s Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final for Sunday’s Muster duel with their conquerors of nine months ago at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Andrew Quinn, who lined out at right corner-forward on that occasion, subsequently underwent a knee operation and has been out of action since. His place is now allocated to Barry Nugent.

Both David Hoey and Tony Carmody, who missed the National League semi-final defeat by Limerick because of injury, have been passed fit.

But there is no place for the unfortunate Fergal Lynch. A regular in attack all through the League, Lynch picked up a finger infection last weekend and was hospitalised for a number of days.

However, he has been included in the substitutes.

New corner-forwards David Kelly and Kevin Sweeney will make their belated debuts for Sligo in the rearranged Connacht senior football championship clash against Galway on Saturday.

Kildare will be without Glen Ryan, Darragh Flynn and Damien Hendy for their Leinster quarter-final contest with Offaly at Croke Park on Sunday.

Former skipper Ryan has a cracked chest bone, while Flynn is out with an ankle injury and Hendy is sidelined with a broken wrist.

David Lyons is also doubtful because of an ankle injury and as a result of all those injuries the Kildare team will not be announced until just before throw-in time.

Throw-in time for Donegal’s ESB UIster MFC opener against Cavan has been changed from 5.15pm this Saturday evening to 7pm. The game will still go ahead in Brewster Park, Enniskillen.

The throw-in time for Donegal’s Ulster U-21 ‘B’ hurling final against Monaghan has been changed from 3pm to 5.15pm at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Galway will this weekend honour the side which won the county’s fourth All-Ireland senior football final 50 years ago.

The success of the 1956 Galway side ‹which was led by the ‘Terrible Twins’ Sean Purcell and Frank Stockwell) kick started a glorious period for the Tribesmen.

It was the county’s first All-Ireland title since 1938 and commenced a period of dominance in Connacht which saw them win nine of the next 11 provincial titles, going on to win three All-Ireland titles in the mid-sixties.

Galway Football Board have organised a 50th Anniversary Dinner which will take place tomorrow night at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill.

Two of the best know members of the side, Team of the Century member Sean Purcell and half-back Jack Mahon, passed away last year. One of the special guests on the night will be referee Peter McDermott from Meath, who was in charge of the final when Galway defeated Cork 2-13 to 3-7. Frank Stockwell set a scoring record in that final with 2-5.

CLARE (SH v Cork): D. Fitzgerald, G. O’Grady, B. Lohan,F. Lohan; D. Hoey, S. Mcmahon, G. Quinn; B. O’Connell, C. Lynch; D. McMahon, A. Markham, T. Carmody; B. Nugent, T. Griffen, N. Gilligan.

SLIGO (SF V Galway): P. Greene; R. Donovan, N. McGuire, C. Harrison; J. Davey, P. McGowen, P. Doohar; S. Daly, B. Egan; E. O’Hara, B. Cullen, A. Marren; D. Kelly, M. Brehony, K. Sweeney.

DONEGAL (MFC v Cavan): L. McFadden; B. Shovlin, S. Boyle, M. McGowan; P. McGinley, L, McLoone, D. Walsh; R.Wherity, A. Lynch; E. Wade, M. Murphy, M. McElhinney; D. Molloy, D. Gallagher, G. Ward.