Connacht champions Galway will be without Pádraic Joyce for this weekend's first defence of their title against Sligo at Pearse Stadium.
The vastly experienced Joyce hurt his Achilles tendon playing for his club and although there had been hopes that he would be fit for Sunday, manager Peter Ford had to rule him out when naming the team last night.
The team is notable for the number of centrefielders named to start. As well as the selected pairing of Paul Clancy and senior championship debutant Paul Geraghty, Niall Coleman, who played there last year, and the experienced Joe Bergin are chosen in the wing forward positions.
Michael Donnellan, the new captain, lines out at centre forward. Seán Armstrong moves from the wing to corner forward with Michael Meehan slotting into Joyce's position at full forward.
Matt Clancy and Damien Burke are like Joyce injured and unable to play. It had been hoped that Burke, who hurt his ankle in the NFL final against Kerry, would make it but he hasn't recovered.
The team features two newcomers, Geraghty and centre back Diarmuid Blake, who played that role for the All-Ireland winning under-21s of 2002. Having been hampered by injuries in the years since, Blake came into the team this season for the League campaign and made the number six jersey his own.
Donnellan, Finian Hanley and Armstrong were all members of the Salthill side that won the All-Ireland club title this year.
In the Ulster championship Fermanagh have named an experienced line-up for the weekend's first round against Antrim. Goalkeeper Chris Breen is the only player making a championship debut and he came into the side last summer for the qualifiers, replacing Niall Tinney who kept goal in the Ulster defeat by Armagh.
All Star Martin McGrath, who has recovered from heart surgery earlier this year, isn't fit and won't start.
Antrim will field five of the St Gall's team that came so close in the All-Ireland club final last March. Goalkeeper Paddy Murray, defenders Andrew McClean and Seán Kelly and forwards Aidan Gallagher and Kevin McGourty will all start in Enniskillen this weekend.
Meanwhile, Paul Codd has returned to the fold with the Wexford hurlers after two years of retirement. The former captain played for the county in a recent challenge match against Cork in Thurles and is likely to come into the reckoning for the coming Leinster championship semi-final against Laois or Offaly.
Setanta Sports have announced their deferred broadcast schedules for next week. The following matches will be shown: Connacht SFC - Galway v Sligo: Monday, May 22nd - 9.30pm; Tuesday, May 23rd - 5.30pm; Wednesday, May 24th - 4.10pm; Wednesday, May 24th - 7.30pm; Friday, May 26th - 1.30pm; Ulster SFC - Fermanagh v Antrim Tuesday, May 23rd - 1.00pm; Wednesday, May 24th - 2.40pm; Wednesday, May 24th - 10.30pm; Thursday, May 25th - 9.00am; Ulster MFC - Fermanagh v Antrim Wednesday, May 24th - 5.40pm; Leinster SHC - Westmeath v Dublin, Tuesday, May 23rd - 2.30pm; Tuesday, May 23rd - 7.30pm; Thursday, May 24th - 10.55am; Leinster SHC - Offaly v Laois Tuesday, May 23rd - 4.00pm; Tuesday, May 23rd - 10.00pm; Wednesday, May 24th - 1.10pm.
GALWAY (SF v Sligo): A Keane; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Meehan; A Burke, D Blake, M Comer; P Clancy, P Geraghty; N Coleman, M Donnellan, J Bergin; D Savage, M Meehan, S Armstrong.
ANTRIM (SF v Fermanagh): P Murray; A McClean, P Doherty, D Gault; A Scullion, A Convery, S Kelly; J Quinn, M McCann; C Close, B Herron, A Gallagher; K Brady, K McGourty, M Magill.
FERMANAGH: C Breen; P Sherry, B Owens, S Goan; R Johnston, H Brady, S McDermott; L McBarron, M Murphy; M Little, J Sherry, T Brewster; E Maguire, S Doherty, C O'Reilly.
