11 OF THE Galway side that started in last September’s All-Ireland final replay defeat to Kilkenny have been named in the starting fifteen for their 2013 championship opener against Laois on Sunday.
Manager Anthony Cunningham has unveiled his team for the Leinster semi-final which takes place in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
The four newcomers into the side from last year’s decider are left half-back Joseph Cooney – son of former legendary attacker Joe – midfielder Aidan Harte, right corner-forward David Glennon and left corner-forward Conor Cooney.
Defender Tony Og Regan, midfielder Andy Smith and the attacking duo of Damien Hayes and James Regan are the players to make way for the Tribesmen.
There is a notable positional change in defence with last year’s star corner-back Johnny Coen now selected at the heart of the defence at centre-back.
Goalkeeper James Skehill is a notable inclusion between the posts as he starts his first game for the county since coming off injured with a damaged shoulder in that loss to Kilkenny last September.
GALWAY: James Skehill (Cappataggle); Fergal Moore (Turloughmore), Kevin Hynes (Sarsfields), Niall Donoghue (Kilbeacanty); David Collins (Liam Mellowes), Johnny Coen (Loughrea), Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields); Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan), Aidan Harte (Gort); David Burke (St Thomas), Niall Burke (Oranmore-Maree), Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses); David Glennon (Mullagh), Joe Canning (Portumna), Conor Cooney (St Thomas).
Here’s the Laois team for the game as they have made just the one change from their quarter-final win over Carlow.
John Brophy comes into the team at corner-forward with Neil Foyle the player to make way.
LAOIS: Eoin Reilly (St Lazarian’s, Abbeyleix); Brian Stapleton (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton), Brian Campion (Rathdowney-Errill), John A Delaney (Clough Ballacolla); Joe Fitzpatrick (Rathdowney-Errill), Matthew Whelan (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton), Gearoid Burke (Camross); Cahir Healy (Portlaoise), James Walsh (Ballinakill); Stephen Maher (Clough Ballacolla), Zane Keenan (Camross), Tommy Fitzgerald (Portlaoise); John Brophy (The Harps), Willie Hyland (Clough Ballacolla), Brian Dunne (The Harps).
