Offaly will launch their Leinster hurling championship campaign without three key players. As expected, Brian Whelahan has failed in his efforts to recover from a broken thumb for Saturday evening's encounter with Laois in Tullamore. Also, Rory Hanniffy and Barry Teehan are out with knee injuries.
In the absence of Whelahan, Kevin Brady will make his championship debut at centre back. Mike McNamara's side also contain five of last year's under-21 side, with Brady and Brian Carroll still eligible.
If Offaly can overcome Laois they will have an extra week to recover as a result of the postponement of the other quarter-final between Dublin and Westmeath, because of the sixth substitution allegation made by Kildare. The three injured players have until June 20th, which should be sufficient for Whelahan, at least, to return to full fitness.
His presence will be required if Offaly are to put behind them the form they displayed in their disastrous National League campaign.
Limerick manager Pad Joe Whelahan was able to select from a full-strength panel for Sunday's Munster hurling championship semi-final against Cork at the Gaelic Grounds. Eoin O'Neill is named as a replacement. He was suffering from a leg injury but is expected to be more effective coming into the contest late on.
There are three championship debutants - Michael Cahill at corner back, wing forward Michael McKenna and full forward JP Sheahan. Peter Lawlor has recovered from a foot injury to take his place in midfield. With no players from county champions Patrickswell in the side, TJ Ryan takes over the captaincy.
Carlow football manager Luke Dempsey has named the side that finished strongly in the win over Longford for their Leinster football championship clash with Laois at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday. This means there are two new starters - Willie Power in midfield and Barry English at half back.
Despite naming a full-strength side, Dempsey will not make a final decision on several players until tomorrow evening. Patrick Hickey has a dead leg and Brian Carberry is nursing his hamstring but more serious doubts surround the fitness of full back Stephen O'Brien.
An experienced Antrim side will face Donegal in the Ulster football championship at Ballybofey on Sunday. They have just one championship debutant in corner forward Paul Doherty.
Tickets for the Leinster football championship double-header at Croke Park on June 6th (Dublin v Westmeath at 2.15 p.m., followed by Kildare v Wexford at 4 p.m.) are available online from today at 20 each.
LIMERICK (SH v Cork): A Shanahan; D Reale, TJ Ryan (capt), M Cahill; O Moran, B Geary, M Foley; C Smith, P Lawlor; N Moran, S O'Connor, M McKenna; A O'Shaughnessy, JP Sheahan, D Sheehan.
OFFALY (SH v Laois): B Mullins; M O'Hara, G Oakley, D Franks; N Claffey, K Brady, C Cassidy; M Cordial, Barry Whelahan; N Coughlan, G Hanniffy, B Murphy; B Carroll, J Brady, D Murray.
ANTRIM (SF v Donegal): S McGreevy; N Ward, C Brady, T Convery; G Adams, S Kelly, A Finnegan; J Quinn, M McCrory; M McCarry, K Brady, K McGourty; P Doherty, D O'Hare, K Madden.
CARLOW (SF v Laois): J Clarke; B Farrell, S O'Brien, C McCarthy; B English, J Hayden, J Byrne; T Walsh, W Power; S Kavanagh, J Nevin, M Carpenter (capt); S Rea, P Hickey, B Carberry.
