Dublin and Wexford gear up for U-21 decider

Diarmuid Connolly's young brother Thomas will start for Dublin in tomorrow's Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship final at Wexford Park (throw-in 7.30pm).

Connolly and Niall McMorrow have been brought into the Dubs' attack as the only two changes to the team that beat Offaly last time out.

Eamonn Dillon and Ciarán Brennan both drop to the bench, while captain Liam Rushe is stationed at centre-forward and another senior panellist, Daire Plunkett, teams up with Danny Sutcliffe in midfield.

Opponents Wexford, who put seven goals past Laois in their semi-final, have also made two changes in personnel for the TG4-televised decider.

Manager Tony Dempsey drafts in Pádraig Donnelly at left corner back with Eoin Moore moving to midfield as Rory Sludds drops to the bench.

John Leacy returns from injury at centre-back, replacing James Gahan who started in the previous round. Senior star Harry Kehoe will lead the attack beside Liam Óg McGovern, who scored two goals against Laois.

Dublin are bidding to retain their provincial crown and join their minor counterparts as Leinster champions this summer.

Late goals from Dair Plunkett and substitute David Quinn helped the Dublin U-21s beat Wexford 2-15 to 0-15 in last year's final.

The Model County youngsters are hoping to turn the tables tomorrow and win their first Leinster title at this grade since 2002.

Adding to the sense of occasion, Dublin skipper Liam Rushe will be the subject of the first ever 'player cam' to feature in GAA. A TG4 camera will track his every move and fans can follow it live on www.tg4.tv.

Ger Cunningham, sports sponsorship manager at Bord Gáis Energy, said: "We're delighted to be a part of another first in Gaelic games with the player cam.

"An exciting player like Liam Rushe is a great contender for its first outing and it will allow younger hurlers to study the individual skills of inter-county players as well as giving viewers a different perspective on the game."

Rushe himself is quite relaxed about the added attention, joking: "It's hard enough having 'the Sunday Game' watching you and pinpointing things out without a player cam following you!

"Maybe they should give it to corner forwards. I'll have to be busy running around in circles and have to get on the ball. I'll just ignore it and won't try to impress because there's a camera on me."

DUBLIN (U-21HC v Wexford): Ger McManus; Bill O’Carroll, Darren Kelly, Jack Doughan; Dean Curran, Martin Quilty, Conor Gough; Danny Sutcliffe, Daire Plunkett; Mark Schutte, Liam Rushe (capt), Robbie Mahon; Kevin O’Loughlin, Thomas Connolly, Niall McMorrow.

Subs: Fionán Clabby, Eamonn Dillon, Ciarán Brennan, Sean McGrath, Stephen O’Connor, Cillian Moffat, Odhran Ó Maoiléidigh, Barry Mulligan, Ben Quinn.

WEXFORD: Mark Fanning (capt); Willie Devereux, Matthew O’Hanlon, Pádraig Donnelly; Michael O’Regan, John Leacy, Shaun Murphy; Emmet Kent, Eoin Moore; Shane Tomkins, Harry Kehoe, Liam Óg McGovern; Paul Morris, James Breen, Pádraig Doran.