KERRY manager Paidi O Se given a surprise call up to John O'Connell of Tarbert Sunday's Church and general National Football league quarter final clash Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
O'Connell has played less than two matches in the Kerry campaign; as a defender against Meath in the third round of the league, and later as a substitute against Laois. He lines out at right half forward on Sunday.
All Ireland club championship celebrations now over, the Killorglin contingent returns and helps to alleviate O Se's injury worries. The Hassetts, Mike and Liam, along with Billy O'Shea are the three members of the Laune Rangers team in the starting lineup.
The injury prone Maurice Fitzgerald is one of three players who could not be considered for what is the first knockout League meet.ing between the teams in over five years. Gene Farrell (groin) and James O'Shea (leg) are also injury victims.
Morgan Nix and Sean Geaney are named among the substitutes, but because of injuries cannot be relied on to be fully fit for action.
John Crowley takes over at centre forward to the exclusion of Jack Ferriter. Mike Hassett comes in at centre back, and his return allows Sean Burke to move back to full back. Liam Hassett returns to his favourite full forward berth, with Denis O'Dwyer relegated to the substitutes bench.
Billy O'Shea, who proved a real menace to the Eire Og, Carlow, defence on St Patrick's Day, figures at left half forward. Bingo O'Driscoll is switched to the left corner of attack where James O'Shea operated against Clare.
Looking beyond Sunday's clash, a fixture problem awaits the winners. With the semi finals due to be played on April 21st, the winners would have to get around a clash with the Munster under 21 championship semi finals which are scheduled for April 17th.
The under 21 championship opens on April 10th, with Waterford fixed to meet Kerry in Dungarvan and Clare drawn against Tipperary in Ennis. Cork await the winners of the Kerry Waterford clash in the semi finals, while Limerick await the outcome of the Tipperary-Clare clash.
A Kerry-Cork semi final seems virtually assured. With both counties including key senior players, midweek action for such players is bound to be unacceptable to either manager, Billy Morgan or O Se.
While Kerry have addressed their selection problems, Meath and their manager Sean Boylan have failed to do so, and have been forced to defer the naming of their side to meet Mayo until tonight.
Paddy Reilly is suspended as a result of having been dismissed in a club match last Sunday. Five other key players are on the injured list. They are John McDermott (knee, Barry Callaghan (thigh), Kevin Cahill (hamstring), Trevor Giles (flu), and Cathal Sheridan (ankle).
Mayo manager John Maughan is pleased to be in a position to name five members of last year's under 21 team, the Connacht champions, to face Meath. However, although Dermot Flanagan is named at left corner back, he may yet be unable to line out because of an ankle injury.
David Brady teams up with Liam McHale in midfield and the full forward line also blends - youth and experience, with David Nestor and John Casey lining up alongside the long serving Anthony Finnerty.
Donegal have recalled several familiar names for several familiar names for Sunday's quarter final against Wicklow at Croke Park. After a winter of experiment mainly with under 21 players, Donegal turn to the tried and trusted - James McHugh, Barry McGowan, John Joe Doherty, Declan Bonner and Manus Boyle.
McHugh last played against Tyrone in October while Bonner had been out of the panel since last summer's shock defeat by Monaghan, returning just two weeks ago.
John Joe Doherty and Manus Boyle last played in the league in November while Barry, McGowan's return is prompted by injury to Damien Diver, one of a number of younger players who impressed over the winter. Diver, along with captain Noel Hegarty, is out of contention because of injury.
Derry manager Brian Mullins has also deferred finalising his selection for their quarter final, against Cavan at Clones, until tonight. John McGurk (hamstring), Damien Barton (shoulder), and Rory Boylan (hamstring) are all on the injured list. Cavan go in with the same personnel that finished the round robin stage of the league. There is, however, one positional switch. Aidan Connolly and Bernard Morris swap positions, with Connolly going to midfield and Morris to centre back.
