Darcy and Casey earn start against Galway

Dublin manager Tom Carr has limited changes to those enforced by injury for Sunday's National Football League meeting with Galway at Parnell Park. Ken Darcy will take the place of the injured Colin Moran at wing forward, while Mike Casey does likewise at wing back for the injured Shane Ryan.

Both players appeared as substitutes in last weekend's loss to Kerry, although Darcy replaced Niall O'Donoghue, who gets to keep his place at centre forward. It was expected that Declan Darcy, older brother of Ken, would get his first start of the league but instead he will start on the bench.

Martin Cahill has recovered from his ankle injury to start at corner back. Depending on Central Council's decision at this weekend's GAA Congress, this may be Dublin's last outing of the league. Either way, the points are crucial if Dublin are to avoid Division Two football next season.

All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny will give John Barron his first senior start for Sunday's important meeting with Tipperary at Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is still without the services of Andy Comerford and Brian McEvoy (who are both recovering from operations) but the minor injuries to Peter Barry (hamstring) and Henry Shefflin (groin) have recovered sufficiently for them to take their places at wing back and corner forward respectively.

Barron has played both minor and under-21 for the county and was also a substitute in Kilkenny's last two league games - including the defeat by Cork on February 24th. Keeping their places on the Kilkenny team are three newcomers this season: Dermot Grogan at corner back, Aidan Cummins at midfield and Alan Geoghegan at wing forward.

Elsewhere, the Down football team to play Tipperary shows a number of changes from that which beat Carlow in the last round, but the most interesting thing about Pete McGrath's selection is that Mickey Linden has been named among the substitutes.

It is Linden's first involvement with the county since last summer's shock championship loss to Antrim, but with the series of injuries in recent months now behind him, he was able to return to full training this week. Among the changes to the starting line-up are goalkeeper Peter Travers, Paul McConville at corner back, and Paul Shields at wing back.