DOWN HAVE named their captain, Ross Carr, at centre halfback in an experienced team for their clash with Tyrone in the preliminary round of the Ulster Football Championship at Clones on Sunday (3.45).
Also included in the side are Greg Blaney and Peter Withnell, both of whom came in as substitutes in the unsuccessful challenge to Kerry in the National League semifinal.
The selection of Carr in the number six jersey comes as a surprise. He has figured at both half back and half forward in AllIreland winning teams and the selectors now, apparently, feel that he can have an important influence on the display of the team from a central defensive position.
The positioning of Peter Withnell on the left wing of the attack is also something of a surprise. He has normally figured at full forward but the belief in Down is that he will now be used as a third midfielder.
The absence of James McCartan is explained by the fact that he broke his collarbone while playing for his club Tullylish recently while another absentee through injury (a broken jaw) is Finbar Caulfield.
Included in the side in spite of recent injuries are Ciaran McCabe, who was out of action with a leg injury but who is included at full forward, while Liam Howlett gets the unenviable job of marking Peter Canavan.
Danny Ball, meanwhile, will not announce his Tyrone selection until tonight.
There will he a doubleheader in the Leinster hurling championship in Mullingar on Sunday when a lot of attention will be centred on the match between Dublin and Westmeath.
The other part of the double header is the match between Meath and Offaly. There are serious doubts about the availability of Johnny Dooley who went off injured after only 16 minutes in Offaly's league match against Laois on Sunday. A number of other players are also doubtful.
Clare will be without Frank Lohan (because of suspension) for their Munster championship clash with Kerry in Ennis. Clare have a number of injury problems before they select their team tonight. A serious question mark exists after the name of P J O'Connell who suffered a bad knee injury in the match against Tipperary on Sunday while Fergal Hegarty, Stephen McNamara, Fergal Tuohy and Ger O'Loughlin have all been recovering from injury in recent weeks and are hopeful of being able to line out.
