Loughnane tinkers with Galway side

Galway manager Ger Loughnane has made four changes in personnel and a number of positional switches to his team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC qualifier clash with Cork (Semple Stadium, throw-in 7pm).

Fergal Healy and Richie Murray are introduced as a new midfield partnership, while Portumna's Kevin 'Chunky' Hayes and Niall Healy of Craughwell have also been included in attack.

Niall Healy is back in the team after recovering from the hand injury he sustained in the recent qualifier win over Laois.

The two Healys and Murray were both used as substitutes against the O'Moore men. With Fergal Healy and Murray set for centre-field action, Adrian Cullinane has been moved to wing forward.

The players to lose out are Andy Smith, Alan Kerins, Cyril Donnellan and Ger Farragher, who has been battling a hamstring injury.

But further changes are anticipated before the throw-in as full-back Fergal Moore is reportedly struggling with the hamstring injury he aggravated in the Laois game.

And experienced forward Kerins could yet be drafted in as his toe injury continues to improve.

Eugene Cloonan, another of Loughnane's attacking options, has been hospitalised for the past fortnight due to a blood infection.

However, the Athenry clubman, who is receiving treatment at Galway's University College Hospital, remains hopeful of returning in county colours should the Tribesmen qualify for an All-Ireland quarter-final.

Galway last met Cork in the championship when the counties slugged it out in the 2005 All-Ireland final, which the Rebels won by 1-21 to 1-16.

Galway's top scorers in the 2008 championship to date have been teen star Joe Canning (2-15), Damien Hayes (1-06) and Alan Kerins and Adrian Cullinane (1-04 each).

GALWAY (SHC v Cork) - J Skehill; D Joyce, F Moore, O Canning (capt); S Kavanagh, J Lee, D Forde; F Healy, R Murray; I Tannian, K Hayes, A Cullinane; D Hayes, J Canning, N Healy.