Armagh continue to gather strength

GAELIC GAMES: Armagh's hand got even stronger ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Fermanagh as John McEntee officially returned to the panel. The Crossmaglen man, whose twin brother, Tony, starts at centre-forward, is named on the bench after recovering from a hip injury.

Despite McEntee's availability, manager Joe Kernan has made no changes to the starting line-up which dispensed with Donegal in the Ulster final on July 11th, in what was widely acclaimed to be the performance of the summer thus far.

Their opponents will select today, but Eamon Sherry, brother of James and Peter, is unavailable after damaging a knee last week in training.

James Sherry has recovered from a back strain and should start at wing-forward.

Mayo have made two changes to the side to face Tyrone in Saturday's other quarter-final at Croke Park. It sees the return of former International Rules goalkeeper Peter Burke, who played in the Connacht champions' opening round match against New York, but a recurrence of a cruciate knee injury has kept him sidelined since. Fintan Ruddy drops to the bench.

The other change sees Peadar Gardiner in for Gary Mullins.

All-Ireland champions Tyrone will name their team after training tonight. Mickey Harte is expected to stick closely to the side that overwhelmed Laois last weekend in Croke Park, although a doubt still surrounds Owen Mulligan's availability.

The in-form full forward aggravated a thigh strain and had to be replaced early in the second-half against Laois by Barry Collins, although not before kicking 1-3. Peter Canavan was not risked due to further damage to his troublesome left ankle. However, the two key players are expected to recover sufficiently.

In the event of their absence, Stephen O'Neill will move to the edge of the square. Goalkeeper Pascal McDonnell is also causing concern after his front teeth were dislodged in the same match, but Joe McMahon has recovered from a nose injury.

Kevin Hughes will follow the lead given by fellow midfielder, Fermanagh's Liam McBarron, and take to the skies to ensure he makes it back to Tyrone in time for his sister's wedding - well, the reception at least, on Saturday.

Curiously, rally drivers Andrew Nesbitt and Austin McHale will team up to make the helicopter trip possible. Nesbitt will fly Hughes home, while McHale and a Garda escort will transport him from Croke Park.

Meanwhile, despite having surgery last week, hope still remains for Henry Shefflin to play some part for Kilkenny in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Munster champions Waterford.

Shefflin was forced off the field last Saturday after a clash with Clare's Gerry Quinn - a matter that the Games Administration Committee is to investigate in the coming weeks - and was given a Garda escort from Thurles to hospital in Waterford. There, he received surgery to repair a damaged tear duct below his right eye.

He met with an eye specialist Dr Mark Mulhearn yesterday and his availability depends on how much the swelling subsides. Kilkenny may name a team in the coming days, but a final decision on Shefflin will not be made until the weekend.

After John Mullane lost his appeal resulting from a straight red card received in the Munster final, Waterford's main concern is to find a suitable replacement to fill the void in the half-forward line. Jack Kennedy is expected to get the nod.

In the other semi-final tie, Wexford duo Paul Carley (ankle) and Eoin Quigley (hamstring) are considered very doubtful to make the fixture against Cork on August 15th.

Tickets for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final will be on sale from the Cusack Stand ticket outlet today and tomorrow (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Tickets are also still available online.

But the GAA has sold out its online allocation for Saturday's football quarter-final double header, also at headquarters.