Cloonan in surprise return for Galway

GAELIC GAMES CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 NEWSGER LOUGHNANE has certainly stamped his mark on Galway hurling by naming a team to face Antrim in the first-round qualifier that includes the Canning brothers, Ollie and Joe, for the first time at senior intercounty level. And that's not the only surprise as Eugene Cloonan returns at full forward and Iarla Tannian is shifted to the left wing.

Cloonan did feature in Loughnane's championship team last season but a recurring back problem saw him miss this year's National League campaign when Galway reached the final only to lose by two points to Tipperary.

The 19-year-old Joe Canning makes his championship debut at left corner forward alongside Cloonan and Damien Hayes but will presumably drift towards the square to make use of his physique as the game and perhaps the championship progresses. Never has such fanfare been made of a championship debutant. It almost allows the return of his multiple All Star brother and team captain Ollie to go almost unnoticed.

Almost. The Portumna man will be charged with solidifying the Galway full-back line alongside Damien Joyce and Fergal Moore, who replaces Tony Óg Regan at full back from the league final over two months ago - Galway's last competitive fixture.

Ger Farragher was ruled out earlier in the week with a back complaint and is replaced in the side by Alan Kerins. Other changes see Adrian Cullinane moved into midfield alongside Fergal Healy as David Forde returns to a strong half-back line with John Lee and Shane Kavanagh. Cyril Donnellan is named at centre half forward.

If, as expected, Galway beat the Ulster champions they will face Laois in the next round of the qualifiers. Not much of a challenge is expected against Laois either as they appear to be in disarray after the resignation of manager Damien Fox.

"It's not for a want of trying on the county management's part - they are just not interested," said Fox after the defeat to Offaly in May. "I don't know what it is in Laois. Having been defeated for so long, having been down for so long - maybe that's one reason . . . Maybe from minor and under-21 level up if they see the senior team is taking it serious they might come into the fold."

Niall Rigney has taken up the role on a temporary basis and will be assisted by Joe Dollard.

Kerry manager Pat O'Shea may have to plan without his longest serving and perhaps most influential figure in the Munster football championship final on July 6th after Darragh Ó Sé aggravated a groin injury in a challenge match against Meath last Monday.

Kerry are already without suspended captain Paul Galvin and knee injury victim Declan O'Sullivan. Cork half backs Noel O'Leary and Paudie Kissane have also been ruled out for the Páirc Uí Chaoimh meeting.

Meanwhile, several key members of the Dublin senior hurling team will line out against the Kilkenny under-21s in tonight's Leinster semi-final at Parnell Park. The spine of the side - Tomás Brady at full back, Joey Boland at centre back, Johnny McCaffrey and Simon Lambert in midfield and Ross O'Carroll at centre forward - all featured in last Sunday's defeat to Wexford in the senior Leinster semi-final.

Richie Hogan and TJ Reid are the Kilkenny forwards expected to cause the most concern for the Dublin defence.

Finally, stand tickets for Sunday's Leinster football semi-final between Dublin and Westmeath will be on sale from the Dublin GAA Office in Parnell Park, Donnycarney today and tomorrow between 10am and 5pm.

GALWAY (SH v Antrim): J Skehill; D Joyce, F Moore, O Canning (capt); S Kavanagh, J Lee, D Forde; A Cullinane, F Healy; A Kerins, C Donnellan, I Tannian; D Hayes, E Cloonan, J Canning.

KILKENNY (Under-21H v Dublin): C McGrath; P Murphy, K Joyce, E O'Shea; N Prendergast, P Hogan, L Ryan; J Dowling, N Walsh; C Fennelly, TJ Reid, J Mulhall; M Ruth, N Cleere, R Hogan.

DUBLIN (Under-21H v Kilkenny): F McGarry; P Schutte, T Brady, R Drumgoole; O Gough, J Boland, P Kelly; S Lambert, J McCaffrey; P Garbutt, Ross O'Carroll, J Maher; P Ryan, D O'Dwyer, K O'Reilly.