Delaney debut for Laois seniors

National Football League: Leinster champions Laois field 11 of the side which won a first provincial title in 57 years for the trip to newly-promoted Limerick this weekend.

Mick O'Dwyer's team is just back from its winter holiday and features two players making their debuts.

Barry Brennan played last year as a replacement but starts on Sunday at right corner forward. A more surprising senior debutant is 1996 All-Ireland winning minor captain Martin Delaney, who is reckoned not to have played for the county since the 1999 under-21 championship.

After spending time in the US he has returned and committed himself this year to the senior footballers. He starts at centre forward, as last year's captain, Ian Fitzgerald, has an eye infection and sits this one out.

Opponents Limerick have delayed naming their first Division One selection until this evening. Manager Liam Kearns has a number of long-term injuries. Centrefielder John Galvin has been resting a groin strain.

"We've been trying to get him right for a while," according to Kearns, "but it will probably be the third or fourth match before he's ready. He's able to run in straight lines but I don't want to rush it."

Also due back in that timeframe are Micheál Reidy and Stephen Lavin. Out for longer are (until recently) dual players Conor Fitzgerald and Brian Begley, both of whom will miss the league.

Westmeath, meanwhile, have left a vacancy at centre forward for the trip to Cork on Saturday. It will be probably be filled by Fergal Wilson providing he recovers from injury and, if not, Michael Ennis, who started there in the O'Byrne Cup final, will come into the reckoning.

Left corner forward Denis Glennon has recovered from the neck injury that required seven minutes of medical attention on the field last Sunday. Happily it turned out to be considerably less serious than initially feared. Donal O'Donoghue, who switched to full back during the first half, retains the position.

Holders Tyrone show six changes from the team that won the All-Ireland last September.

New captain Cormac McAnallen will start on the bench, as he is not fully recovered from injury. Peter Canavan will miss the entire campaign, and other more short-term injuries are Philip Jordan and Gerard Cavlan.

Enda McGinley isn't back from a club holiday and last year's goalkeeper, John Devine, is listed among the replacements.

The only debutant is Colm McCullagh, who has made the switch from Irish League side Omagh Town.

Wexford name two newcomers for the county's first Division One match. Darren Foran and Ciarán Kennedy come in for the trip to Crossmaglen to play Armagh, at left corner and wing forward respectively. Experienced forwards John Hegarty (injured) and Mattie Forde (family commitment) are unavailable.

Longford also have two new faces for their home tie against Kerry. Stephen Lynch and Michael Kelly are named at left wing back and right wing forward. LAOIS (SF v Limerick): F Byron; P McDonald, C Byrne, J Higgins; D Rooney, T Kelly, K Fitzpatrick; S Clancy, N Garvan; C Parkinson, M Delaney, C Conway; B Brennan, M Lawlor, B McDonald.

TYRONE (SF v Dublin): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Gormley, M McGee; C Holmes, G Devlin, C Gourley; K Hughes, S Cavanagh; M Coleman, B McGuigan, B Dooher; C McCullagh, O Mulligan, S Mulgrew. Subs: J Devine, D Carlin, G Cavlan, B Donnelly, M Harte, P Jordan, L Meenan, C McAnallen, E McGinley, J McMahon, S O'Neill, S Sweeney.

LONGFORD (SF v Kerry): D Sheridan; S Carroll, C Conefrey, A O'Connor; E Ledwith, D Hanniffy, S Lynch; L Keenan, F Coyle; M Kelly, D Blessington, P Barden; D Barden, N Sheridan, P Davis.

WESTMEATH (SF v Cork): A Lennon; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, F Murray; B Morley, D Kilmartin, D Heavin; R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy; F Dardis, AN Other, A Mangan; J Fallon, P Martin, D Glennon.

WEXFORD (SF v Armagh): J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, L O'Brien; W Carley, D Fogarty; A Morrissey, J Hudson, K Kennedy; S Doran, P Colfer, D Foran.