O'Sullivan, Brosnan return for Kerry

ALL-IRELAND champions Kerry make two changes for this weekend's National Football League Division One final against Derry at …

ALL-IRELAND champions Kerry make two changes for this weekend's National Football League Division One final against Derry at Parnell Park. Back into the team come former captain Declan O'Sullivan, who came on in the last divisional match against Galway, and Eoin Brosnan.

Anthony Maher and the injured Bryan Sheehan are the players to make way. In Sheehan's absence Tomás Ó Sé will captain the side. Kerry are on the trail of a third league title in five years, all of which would have been won under different managers.

Opponents Derry make one enforced change to the team that defeated Donegal to reach the final. Injury forces out James Conway and he is replaced by Joe Diver, who appeared as a replacement the last day.

This will be Derry's first league final since the replayed success against Meath eight years ago - Paddy Bradley and Enda Muldoon survive from that team.

Meanwhile, Dublin have pieced together a side for the Division Two final against Westmeath in Navan tomorrow night. Having had eight players suspended after the fracas with Meath in Parnell Park last weekend, manager Paul Caffrey has had to find replacements for each of them.

In the absence of Ciarán Whelan and Eamonn Fennell, Darren Magee is recalled to a new centrefield pairing with Shane Ryan. Barry Cahill comes in for Ross McConnell at full back and regular wing back Paul Casey is brought in at corner back to cover for Paddy Andrews. The half-back line remains unchanged.

Up front with Tomás Quinn, Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly and Bernard Brogan all suspended, Caffrey brings in Mark Vaughan, Kevin Bonner, Conal Keaney and John O'Brien.

Westmeath make two changes. Injury rules out David Duffy and Dessie Dolan, who are replaced by Martin Flanagan and John Smith.

KERRY (SF v Derry): D Murphy; P Reidy, M Ó Sé, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé (capt.), A O'Mahony, T Griffin; D Ó Sé, S Scanlon; Declan O'Sullivan, D Walsh, E Brosnan; Darren O'Sullivan, K Donaghy, MF Russell.

DERRY (SF v Kerry): B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McCloy (capt.), F McEldowney; L Hinphey, G O'Kane, M McIvor; F Doherty, J Diver; M Lynch, B McGoldrick, E Muldoon; C Gilligan, P Bradley, E Bradley.

DUBLIN (SF v Westmeath): S Cluxton; D Henry, B Cahill, P Casey; C Moran, B Cullen, G Brennan; D Magee, S Ryan; J Sherlock, M Vaughan, B McManamon; K Bonner, C Keaney, J O'Brien.

WESTMEATH (SF v Dublin): G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; D O'Donoghue, M Flanagan; F Wilson, J Smith, D Harte; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Bannon.

OFFALY (SF v Tipperary): P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Sullivan, S Brady; B Darby, P McConway, N Grennan; C McManus, A McNamee; D Egan, N. Smith, P Kellaghan; T Deehan, J Reynolds, N McNamee.

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times