Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has reached for the scalpel in making four changes to his team for this weekend’s Munster football final replay against Cork. There’s still no place for Colm Cooper but another former Footballer of the Year, Paul Galvin, who came out of retirement this year, is named on the bench.
Last year’s All-Ireland winning captain Fionn Fitzgerald, who kicked the late equaliser two weeks ago, is among those dropped – his place going to veteran Aidan O’Mahony, who man marked Michael Murphy so effectively in last year’s All-Ireland final.
Paul Murphy is back after injury, taking the place of another All Star, Peter Crowley whereas Anthony Maher is back at centrefield in place of Stephen O’Brien with Bryan Sheehan moving to the attack where Paul Geaney returns, replacing Barry John Keane.
Cork have announced an unchanged match-day panel.
Tyrone captain Seán Cavanagh will break the record for championship appearances for the county when he lines out in Saturday’s football qualifier against Tipperary in Semple Stadium. It is scheduled to be his 76th match, overtaking Conor Gormley.
Two of the Tyrone team that defeated Tipp in this year’s All-Ireland under-21 final, Mark Bradley and Rory Brennan, are named in the starting line-up.
Meanwhile Dublin All-Ireland winning centre back Ger Brennan has dropped off the county panel for the rest of 2015. The St Vincent’s player hasn’t appeared for the county since the All-Ireland final of two years ago because of a succession of injuries, from the latest of which – to an Achilles tendon – he is still recovering.
Finally the Ulster Council has announced that Sunday’s provincial final between Donegal and Monaghan has sold out St Tiernach’s Park in Clones. Attendances for this year’s provincial championship are, at 142,850, up by a third compared to 2011.
KERRY (SFC v Cork): Brendan Kealy; Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O'Mahony, Shane Enright; Jonathan Lyne, Killian Young, Paul Murphy; Anthony Maher, David Moran; Johnny Buckley, Bryan Sheehan, Donnchadh Walsh; Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy (capt.), James O'Donoghue. Subs: Brian Kelly, Colm Cooper, Barry John Keane, Peter Crowley, Stephen O'Brien, Fionn Fitzgerald, Michael Geaney, Darran O'Sullivan, Tommy Walsh, Jack Sherwood, Paul Galvin.
CORK (SFC): Ken O'Halloran; Michael Shields (capt.), Eoin Cadogan, James Loughrey; Barry O'Driscoll, Brian O'Driscoll, Stephen Cronin; Alan O'Connor, Fintan Goold; Paul Kerrigan, Donncha O'Connor, Kevin O'Driscoll; Colm O'Neill, Mark Collins, Brian Hurley. Subs: Paddy O'Shea, Jamie O'Sullivan, Noel Galvin, Conor Dorman, Tomás Clancy, Ruairi Deane, Patrick Kelly, John Hayes, Colm O'Driscoll, Daniel Goulding, Donal Óg Hodnett.
DERRY (SFQ v Galway): Thomas Mallon; Oisín Duffy, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride; Liam McGoldrick, Brendan Rogers, Seán Leo McGoldrick; Niall Holly, Fergal Doherty; Benny Heron, Mark Lynch (capt.), Enda Lynn; Daniel Heavron, Eoin Bradley, Cailean O'Boyle. Subs: Eoin McNicholl, Karl McKaigue, Michael McIver, Neil Forester, Patsy Bradley, Neill McNicholl, Brian Óg McGilligan, Conor Murphy, Emmett McGuckin, Niall Loughlin, Seán Brady, Gareth McKinless, Mark Craig.
TYRONE (SFQ v Tipperary): Niall Morgan; Aidan McCrory, Ronan McNamee, Cathal McCarron; Ronan McNabb, Joe McMahon, Peter Harte; Colm Cavanagh, Matthew Donnelly; Tiernan McCann, Mark Bradley, Rory Brennan; Darren McCurry, Seán Cavanagh (capt.), Connor McAliskey. Subs: Seán Fox, Mark Bradley, Conor Clarke, Richard Donnelly, Peter Hughes, Danny McBride, Conall McCann, Pádraig McNulty, Cathal McShane, Conor Meyler, Ronan O'Neill, Barry Tierney.
GALWAY (SFQ v Armagh): Brian O'Donoghue; Johnny Duane, Finian Hanley, Cathal Sweeney; Liam Silke, Gary O'Donnell, Gareth Bradshaw; Fiontan O'Curraoin, Tomas Flynn; Gary Sice, Paul Conroy, Michael Lundy; Peadar Og O'Griofa, Damien Comer, Danny Cummins.
MAYO (SFC v Sligo): David Clarke; Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan, Keith Higgins (captain); Lee Keegan, Tom Cunniffe, Colm Boyle; Seamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons; Diarmuid O'Connor, Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin; Andy Moran, Cillian O'Connor, Jason Doherty.
SLIGO (SFC): Aidan Devaney; Ross Donavan, Kevin McDonnell, Daniel Maye; Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, Eoin Flanagan; Cian Breheny, Niall Murphy; Criostoir Davey, Mark Breheny, Neil Ewing; David Kelly, Pat Hughes, Adrian Marren.
