WEXFORD footballers introduce four newcomers to senior championship football for Sunday's Leinster championship preliminary tie against Westmeath at New Ross.

Willie Carley is called up to fill the right wing back position while Leigh O'Brien, Mick Mahon and Jason Lawlor are slotted into the attack.

The winners will play either Offaly or Longford, who contest the other preliminary round game in Tullamore on Sunday. Offaly are the favourites of the quartet to emerge into the first round proper, on the evidence of their impressive run into the National League quarter-finals, from Division Four.

Tipperary and Limerick open the action in the Munster senior football championship at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Sunday, a tie which should see Tipperary advance.

Tyrone and Down will set the Ulster championship in motion in Clones on Sunday week. Down manager Peter McGrath and his Tyrone counterpart, Danny Ball, both have worries about injured players.

Ball yesterday called under-2 defenders Vivien Teague and Brian Meenagh into the panel. Last week the Tyrone boss shored up his attacking options by calling up Brian McGuckin and Fergal Coyle for the big Clones clash.

Ball has also to wait on the outcome of council room deliberations regarding the duration of suspensions likely to be imposed on Pascal Canavan and Sean McLoughlin.

On the injured list are Gerard Cavlan, Brian Dooher, Adrian Cush and Seamus McCallan.