O'Shea rings in changes to kick-start Kerry

NEWS ROUND-UP:KERRY MANAGER Pat O'Shea has made several changes for Sunday's All-Ireland third round football qualifier against Monaghan at Croke Park. As expected, Declan O'Sullivan returns to the starting line-up having missed the Munster final defeat to Cork, and is selected in the corner forward position.

The defensive line-up also sees Marc Ó Sé move to full back, a change from the Munster final, with Tom O'Sullivan in the corner. Tommy Walsh is named at number 10, with Seán O'Sullivan the player to miss out for his name-sakes reintroduction.

Tomás Ó Sé will again captain the team in the continued absence of Paul Galvin, with the panel largely injury free, bar the continued absence of Aidan O'Shea.

Meanwhile, Westmeath and Carlow have succeeded in getting the Christy Ring Cup final switched to a more suitable time and venue, and instead of taking place in Croke Park at 7.30 tomorrow evening, it will now take place at O'Connor Park in Tullamore at 6pm on Sunday.

Earlier this week, the GAA claimed both counties had turned down the chance to play in Croke Park on Saturday week as part of Dublin's football quarter-final, and that this Friday was the only other available slot. However, Westmeath and Carlow officials were adamant that they wouldn't be playing in Croke Park on a Friday evening, when a record low attendance was being anticipated.

In team news, Down face an anxious few days ahead of their third round qualifier against Wexford in Croke Park on Saturday - their first appearance at GAA headquarters since 1994. Full back Martin Cole has been ruled out with an ankle injury, sustained early on in last Saturday's second round win over Laois, and likely to sideline him for up to six weeks.

Team captain and midfielder Dan Gordon went before the GAA's Central Hearings Committee last night in an attempt to get his red card shown against Laois rescinded. Gordon is facing a four-week suspension having been cited for a strike on Laois midfielder Pádraig Clancy, but county board officials were confident going into last night's meeting that they had video evidence to clear their player.

There is speculation over the future of Derry manager Paddy Crozier, who saw his team fall to Monaghan in the second round. Despite guiding the county to league success, Crozier is not expected to seek a fourth year in charge, and Damien Cassidy is being tipped as his successor.

Cassidy played with Derry on the 1993 All-Ireland winning side and was a selector during the late Eamon Coleman's final stint in charge of the county between 2000 and 2002. Derry trainer John McCloskey has already announced his decision not to seek another year.

It has also emerged that Eamonn Barry has stated his interest in returning to the Meath football manager's job. Barry spent just one season in charge before being replaced by Colm Coyle just under two years ago, but following Coyle's resignation after the loss to Limerick, Barry has put his name in the mix from early on.

Elsewhere, Dublin manager Paul Caffrey has received a boost ahead of their quarter-final on Saturday week with the news that defender Ger Brennan has returned to the panel. The St Vincent's clubman opted out of the panel just before the championship, citing tiredness, but returned to training on Tuesday evening.

It has also emerged that Bernard Brogan should be able to play in their All-Ireland quarter-final, having missed the Leinster final win over Wexford with a hamstring injury.

Finally, Antrim football manager Jody Gormley has made two changes to the side that defeated London last weekend for this Saturday's Tommy Murphy Cup final against Wicklow at Croke Park. Thomas McCann gets a start at left-corner forward with Michael Magill dropping to the bench. The defensive switch sees Tony Convery at centre-back with Martin McGarry the player to miss out.

KERRY (SF v Monaghan):D Murphy; P Reidy, M O Se, T O'Sullivan; T O Se, A O'Mahony, Killian Young; D O Se, S Scanlon; T Walsh, C Cooper, D Walsh; D O'Sullivan, K Donaghy, B Sheehan.

ANTRIM (SF v Wicklow):S McGreevy; C Brady, A McClean, P Conlon; T Scullion, T Convery, K O'Boyle; P Doherty, M McCann; P Close, J Crozier, B Hasson; T McCann, K Brady, C Close.