MEATH make two changes in their side for the top of the table clash with Donegal at Navan on Sunday. Cormac Murphy comes into the side at right corner back for the injured John Brady, while Jody Devine drops to the substitutes' bench for Barry Callaghan at left corner forward.
Meath are the only team with a full eight points from their four matches. Donegal were surprisingly beaten by Kerry in their last, outing in Ballyshannon. Kerry won convincingly, 1-11 to 0-6.
The Meath selectors have been. building a strong team in the league and they have filled some central positions satisfactorily. And they can still call on old reliables like Martin O'Connell, now at left corner back, Colm Coyle at left half forward and Tommy Dowd at full forward. In addition they are fortunate to have players of the calibre of John McDermott at centre halfback, Graham Geraghty at right halfback and Trevor Giles at centre forward Barry Callaghan returns to the team after injury. He was a member of the minor team which played so well in 1993 and makes his first appearance in the current league.
Maurice Fitzgerald returns to the Kerry team for their trip to play Tyrone in Dungannon. He is selected in the unusual position for him of right corner forward. Billy O'Shea, who also missed the Donegal match, plays in Fitzgerald's usual position of centre forward.
Liam Hassett replaces Jack Ferriter at full forward, with Gene Farrell moving into the left corner in place of Sean Geaney. Dara O Cinneide, who figured at centre forward and scored 1-6 (five frees) against Donegal, moves to the left wing of the attack and John Crowley drops out.
Derry will be without Dermot McNicholl and Ruairi Boylan for the visit of Kildare. McNicholl has a thumb injury while Boylan was injured a knee in a challenge match last week and will be out for a couple of weeks.
Boylan has made a big impression in recent matches, scoring 15 against Laois and three points against Clare, and has out shone the experienced Brian McGilligan at midfield in recent matches. The team will not be finalised until this evening.
Joint Division Two leaders Cavan make three changes for Sunday's vital match against Down. Aidan Connolly returns from suspension in place of Ray Cole and lines out at wing back. Paul O'Dowd is back in goal after an absence caused by a combination of injury and the demands of Bailieboro's Ulster club campaign.
At right corner forward, Jason Reilly makes his league debut in place of David McCann.
The Railway Cup semi finals postponed last weekend have been refixed for February 18th at the same venues.
There was a major upset in the Sigerson Cup preliminary round yesterday when University of Ulster at Coleraine defeated Queens by 1-8 to 0-9. It was Coleraine's first victory over Queens and their first win in the Sigerson since 1990.
