Gaelic Games Championship 2004/Team news: Armagh name a very experienced side for the Ulster first-round match against Monaghan. There's only one debutant in the starting line-up with Martin O'Rourke starting his first championship match. As was known John McEntee and Diarmuid Marsden miss out through injury but otherwise the team is at full strength.
Kieran McGeeney, who missed last year's shock defeat by the same opposition, plays at centre back whereas Tony McEntee, who tactically covered for McGeeney at the heart of the defence when the captain had recovered, is named on the other 40 in place of his twin brother, John.
Monaghan manager Colm Coyle is expected to announce his team today.
Coyle's own county, Meath, have named two newcomers, goalkeeper David Gallagher and Stephen MacGabhann at left wing back, for the Leinster preliminary round against Wicklow at Croke Park. Both played well during the National League and Gallagher comes in for former Ireland international Cormac Sullivan who left the panel because of work commitments.
Otherwise it is a fairly experienced side with six survivors of the teams that won All-Ireland championships in the 1990s. Former footballer of the year Trevor Giles is named at wing forward despite some speculation he might play in the half backs.
Joe Sheridan, the most impressive newcomer during the league, is suspended for this match. Also suspended is former All-Ireland winner Graham Geraghty who is serving a 12-month ban which is under appeal.
Wicklow are near to full strength for the match although Trevor Doyle is missing because of suspension. Ronan Coffey returns after a back injury.
New manager Hugh Kenny's team had their best league campaign in a number of seasons and just missed out on promotion after losing to Antrim on the last day of the season.
In the Ulster hurling championship, holders Antrim name two debutants, Brendan and Michael Herron at left corner back and left wing forward, respectively, for the semi-final against Derry.
Their opponents name an almost unchanged side from the line-up that started last week's win in London. Ruairi Convery is suspended after being sent off in that match and a vacancy is left at centrefield. That will be filled by either corner back Anton Rafferty, who was injured last week, or corner forward Paul Doherty who lost out to the returning Geoffrey McGonigle - with consequent alterations to the team.
Thegaastore.com, a web-based Gaelic games superstore, has been launched at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Thegaastore.com offers a full range of Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, and handball kits and equipment, as well as new GAA official merchandise, accessories, books and DVDs. The site brings together all products and brands supplying the GAA market today. These include O'Neills, Azzurri, Gaelic Gear, Mycro, PFS, Puma and Sells, as well as various publishers and giftware.
Thegaastore.com is a subsidiary of Sports Merchandising Ireland which has recently became an official licensee of the GAA.
ARMAGH (SF v Monaghan): P Hearty; E McNulty, F Bellew, A Mallon; A O'Rourke, K McGeeney, A McCann; P Loughran, P McGrane; P McKeever, T McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, M O'Rourke.
MEATH (SF v Wicklow): D Gallagher; N McKeigue, D Fay, M O'Reilly; P Reynolds, T O'Connor, S MacGabhainn; N Crawford, A Moyles; N Kelly, C McCarthy, T Giles; E Kelly, S McKeigue, D Regan.
WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth; C Hyland, S Cushe, T Burke; C Davis, S Byrne, A Foley; B Sheehan, B Ó hAnnaidh; T Harney, R Coffey, A Ellis; T Gill, T Hannon, W O'Gorman.
DERRY (SH v Antrim): K Stevenson; G Brunton, L Hinphey, M Conway; B Ward, C Brunton, P O'Kane; AN Other, F Kelly; K Hinphey, Gregory Biggs, Gary Biggs; D McGrellis, P Hearty, G McGonigle.
ANTRIM: DD Quinn; M McCambridge, K Kelly, B Herron; J Campbell, K McKeegan, C Herron; J Connolly, M Scullion; L Richmond, C McGuckian, M Herron; L Watson, P Richmond, B McFall.
