Lyons calls Cosgrove in from the cold

GAA: Ray Cosgrove is back in the Dublin team for Sunday's National Football League opener against Offaly in Tullamore. The Kilmacud Crokes forward is one of several changes under new manager Tommy Lyons as he takes Dublin back into the county he also led to league success in 1998.

It was almost three years ago that Cosgrove last featured in a competitive Dublin side. He faded into obscurity after appearing the Leinster final defeat to Meath in 1999, but in the last couple of weeks has re-emerged as the top forward in most of Dublin's challenge matches under Lyons.

Cosgrove featured prominently in the Blue Stars challenge earlier this month and then scored two precisely-finished goals in the challenge win over Cavan last Sunday. He is named in the same position, left corner forward, as that last game.

There are senior competitive debuts in the forward line for Eoin Bennis and Alan Brogan.

Named at left half forward, Bennis attracted a lot of interest after his 2-1 tally in the Blue Stars game, and the former UCD soccer specialist then helped seal the win in last Thursday's challenge with Westmeath.

Brogan - son of famous father Bernard - has also impressed in a number of those challenge games and moves up from the under-21 ranks to start in the right corner.

James O'Connor of Thomas Davis and John McNally of Ballinteer St John's are also given starting places in the forwards in the absence of the resting Na Fianna crew Jason Sherlock, Dessie Farrell and Senan Connell.

In the defence, there is room for the fresh-faced Paul Casey, who achieved minor success back in 1999. Paul Curran is back in the mix after his brief flirt with retirement, while Darren Magee - brother of regular defender Johnny - is called up into the midfield position to partner Darren Homan as Ciaran Whelan is now at centre forward.

Ruled out through injury were Colin Moran (back) and Shane Ryan (hamstring), while there are longer-term injury problems for Paddy Christie, Ian Robertson and Wayne McCarthy.

Kerry manager Páidí Ó Sé has also called up a few new faces for his opening game with Wicklow in Killarney. John Sheehan of Laune Rangers is named at corner back in what will be his first competitive game for the county, and there is a similar debut for 21-year-old John McGinley of Tarbet at full forward. Johnny Crowley is on holidays.

Seamus Moynihan moves out of his traditional spot to play at left half back. Mossie Lyons and Denis O'Dwyer were unavailable, while Maurice Fitzgerald has yet to rejoin the panel and is unlikely to feature in the league.

Derry, the champions two years ago, begin their campaign with a trip to Clare. As expected, team captain Anthony Tohill was ruled out after a recent operation, but the team does give some life for the old dual players as Geoffrey McGonigle is named among the substitutes.

Elsewhere, Ciaran Gourley and Colin Holmes will miss Tyrone's league opener against Ros-common as both are suffering from injuries. Gourley has been struggling with a hamstring injury for some time, while Holmes has a sprained ankle.

Armagh full back Ger Reid will miss the league opener with Louth because of a back injury.

DUBLIN (SF v Offaly): S Cluxton; D Henry, P Andrews, C Goggins; P Casey, B Cahill, P Curran; D Homan, D Magee; J O'Connor, C Whelan, E Bennis; A Brogan, J McNally, R Cosgrove.

OFFALY: P Kelly; C Daly, G Rafferty, B Mooney; J Hurst, A McNamee, K Slattery; J Grennan, C McManus; AN Other, S Grennan, B Malone; D Claffey, AN Other, P Kellaghan.

KERRY (SF v Wicklow): D O'Keeffe; J Sheehan, B O'Shea, M McCarthy; E Fitzmaurice, T Ó'Sé, S Moynihan; D Ó'Sé (capt), W Kirby; D Quill, N Kennelly, A Mac Gearailt; MF Russell, J McGinley, D O'Cinnéide. Subs: D Murphy, D Daly, E Brosnan, M Ó'Sé, E Galvin, I Twiss, F Kelliher, S O'Sullivan, P Galvin.

DERRY (SF v Clare): S McGuckin; P Cartin, K McCloy, SM Lockhart; D O'Neill, C McNally, G Coleman; F Doherty, D Heaney; P McFlynn, D Dougan, F Crossan; P Bradley, J McBride, G Diamond. Subs: B Scullion, G Doherty, B Mullan, J Niblock, J Donaghy, P Murphy, G McGonigle, P O'Neill, P Cassidy.