Caffrey opts to recall old hands

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey has reacted ruthlessly to the drab performance against Longford in the opening round of the Leinster football championship by redesigning his team for Sunday's semi-final against Laois at Croke Park.

Ray Cosgrove and Jason Sherlock return to the starting line-up at the expense of Mark Vaughan and Niall O'Shea. Bryan Cullen moves from half forward to centre back, where many believe is his most effective position. Paul Griffin goes from wing to corner back in place of O'Shea, while Sherlock is a direct swap for Vaughan. Cosgrove is named at full forward so Conal Keaney moves out to wing forward.

The return of Cosgrove, an All Star in 2002 but he hasn't started a championship match for three years, and Sherlock follows a preference by the management for experience over the unproven talents of Vaughan and O'Shea.

The only line untouched is the midfield partnership of Ciarán Whelan and Shane Ryan. Darren Magee is the only panellist not considered due to injury. Captain Collie Moran, Stephen O'Shaughnessy and Paddy Christie all played in a recent challenge match against Louth but lack of match fitness may have worked against them.

Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer has slightly tweaked the side that dismantled Carlow on June 4th with fellow Kerry native Billy Sheehan coming into the half-forward line in place of injured captain Gary Kavanagh.

The Leinster Council have sold 50,000 tickets for the first major match in Croke Park this summer. Public sales begin this morning at the Leinster Council offices in Portlaoise and Croke Park. The fixture is an all-ticket affair.

Meanwhile, Armagh manager Joe Kernan is expected to recall wing back Paul Duffy for Sunday's Ulster football semi-final replay against Fermanagh in Clones. Paul Hearty is also set to retain the goalkeeper's jersey as Ciarán McKinney is absent for family reasons. Fermanagh report a clean bill of health and welcome back midfielder Martin McGrath from an ankle injury.

Both teams will name their starting line ups tomorrow.

There is conflicting reports coming from Tyrone about the condition of All-Ireland winning captain Brian Dooher. It is believed Dooher fractured his knee cap in a training session two weeks ago but county officials have denied Dooher requires a six-week rehabilitation period.

Harte has added Dromore forward Colm McCullagh to the panel to combat a raft of injury problems. The 28-year-old retired from intercounty football this season to play soccer with Newry City but will return for Saturday's qualifier replay against Louth in Omagh.

Cavan must plan without Paul Brady for the rescheduled qualifier against Kildare this weekend as the handball international has returned to the US to defend his world title.

The qualifiers second-round draw takes place on Sunday evening with the first-round winners in bowl one and the beaten provincial semi-finalists in bowl two. Round two is scheduled for the first weekend in July but due to the backlog arising from the Kildare appeals to Offaly's alleged sixth substitution some games could be delayed until the weekend of July 8th and 9th.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, B Cahill, P Griffin; P Casey, B Cullen, C Goggins; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Keaney, A Brogan, K Bonner; T Quinn, R Cosgrove, J Sherlock.

LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, C Ryan, P McMahon; D Rooney, T Kelly, J Higgins; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, C Conway, B Sheehan; D Brennan, P Lawlor, B McDonald.