Hassett takes over from ╙ SΘ

All-Ireland champions Kerry will start Sunday's semi-final against Meath with all but two of the side that won the title a year ago. The team named by manager Pβid∅ ╙ SΘ last night shows just one change from that which beat Dublin in the quarter-final replay earlier this month.

Mike Hassett comes in at right-half back in place of Tomβs ╙ SΘ, who was forced out through suspension after being sent off early in the second half of the replay with Dublin. Hassett had been sidelined with injury earlier in the championship, but did appear as a substitute in the drawn game with Dublin, and started at corner back in the All-Ireland win over Galway last year.

Mossie Lyons has become the familiar face at right corner back this season, a position he holds for Sunday, and along with centre forward Eoin Brosnan, is one of the two changes from the winning side of last year. Liam Hassett, who started at centre forward on that occasion, has been out for the season with a knee injury.

It means that Maurice Fitzgerald will once again start in the role of substitute, though he is almost certain to make an appearance in the later stages of the game. Tommy Griffin and Barry O'Shea, who were also in contention to take over the vacated spot in the defence, will also start on the bench.

There are some minor positional switches in the line out of the forwards. Aodhβn MacGearailt is named at right half forward, though he was selected on the left the last day, and Brosnan has been named at centre forward, despite the fact that he quickly switched positions with Dara ╙ CinnΘide against Dublin.

There had been some doubts over the fitness of CinnΘide, as he was forced to sit out some of Kerry's training last week through injury. Seamus Moynihan had also been a minor concern for the selectors, but both men made full recoveries in recent days and take their respective places at full forward and full back.

The suspended ╙ SΘ learnt of his fate earlier this month, a result of a red card after a wild tackle on Dublin's Colin Moran some 39 minutes into the replay in Thurles on August 11th. He will, however, be available for the final should Kerry progress.

Opponents Meath, who were also due to name their team last night, have delayed their selection until after their final training session tomorrow evening.

Manager Seβn Boylan is reported to have a couple of minor injury worries within his panel, the most serious of which is full back Darren Fay. He sat out part of last night's training session. although he is not under any serious threat of missing Sunday's game.

It also remains to be seen if wing back Paddy Reynolds will return to the starting line-up. He has served his two-month suspension picked up for a red card in the Leinster semi-final win over Kildare and although he hasn't played a competitive match since, the indications are that he will be accommodated within the team.

It is expected that Croke Park will be filled to its current capacity of 68,000 for the game.

KERRY (SF v Meath): D O'Keeffe; M Lyons, S Moynihan, M McCarthy; M Hassett, E Fitzmaurice, T O'Sullivan; D ╙ SΘ, D Daly; A MacGearailt, E Brosnan, N Kennelly; MF Russell, D ╙ CinnΘide, J Crowley.