O'Connor weighs up options

TEAM NEWS:ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS and NFL holders Kerry make two changes for the latest instalment of modern football's ubiquitous rivalry between them and their neighbours, Cork.

Manager Jack O’Connor continues to weigh up his options for replacing recently-retired goalkeeper Diarmuid Murphy by calling up Kilcummin’s Brendan Kealy, who comes in for last week’s starter Ger Reidy.

The only other change sees Paudge O’Connor from Legion named at right-wing back, replacing Maurice Corridan from last weekend’s defeat by Dublin.

Opponents Cork, hoping for a modest measure of revenge after last September’s All-Ireland defeat, make two personnel changes to the team that secured a valuable win in Scotstown after a shoot-out with Monaghan. Championship starter Alan O’Connor is back at centrefield in place of Fintan Goold. Paddy O’Shea gets a run in goal in place of Kevin Murphy.

Meanwhile, Dublin manager Pat Gilroy makes two changes to the team that secured a first NFL win in Kerry since 1982.

Like O’Connor and Conor Counihan, he rotates the goalkeeping position, bringing in St Vincent’s All-Ireland club medallist Michael Savage in place of Stephen Cluxton for tomorrow evening’s match against Derry.

The other change sees a first league start for Cuala’s promising Michael Fitzsimons at corner back in place of the injured Philip McMahon. Late replacements in Killarney, Paul Conlon and Blaine Kelly, retain their places.

Elsewhere, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has made four changes in personnel and a number of positional alterations, ahead of Sunday’s match with Mayo. Pascal McConnell makes his first appearance of the season in goal, where he replaces Johnny Curran. Seán O’Neill, Davy Harte and Ryan McMenamin, who all came on as substitutes in last weekend’s opening day defeat by Derry, have been included in the defence.

Ronan McNabb and Martin Swift drop to the bench, while the versatile Joe McMahon moves from wing back to wing forward. Kyle Coney switches from the half-forward line to the right corner, with Colm Cavanagh dropping out of the starting 15.

KERRY(NFL v CORK): B Kealy; P Reidy, T Griffin, A O'Connell; P O'Connor, A O'Mahony, K Young; S Scanlon, M Quirke; P Galvin, D O'Sullivan, D Walsh; BJ Walsh, K Donaghy, P O'Connor.

CORK(NFL v Kerry): P O'Shea; R Carey, M Shields, E Cadogan; G Spillane, P Kissane, A Walsh; A O'Connor, N Murphy; P Kelly, P O'Neill, P O'Flynn; D Goulding, D O'Connor, P Kerrigan.

TYRONE(NFL v Mayo): P McConnell, S O'Neill, Justin McMahon, D Carlin, D Harte, C Gormley, R McMenamin, A Cassidy, K Hughes, E McGinley, B McGuigan, Joe McMahon, K Coney, M Penrose, T McGuigan.

DUBLIN(NFL v Derry): M Savage; P Conlon, R O'Carroll, M Fitzsimons; P Griffin, C O'Sullivan, J McCarthy; E Fennell, R McConnell; A Hubbard, M MacAuley, P Flynn; D Henry, B Kelly, K McManamon.

WEXFORD(NFL v Offaly): A Masterson; J wadding, D Walsh, B Malone; N Murphy, D Murphy, A Doyle; D Waters, C Byrne; P Naughter, R Barry, A Flynn; B Brosnan, C Lyng, P Byrne.

LAOIS(NFL V Donegal): C Gorman; J Scully, C Ryan, P McMahon; D Strong, J O'Loughlin, Begley; B Quigley, C Og Greene; C Coss, P Lawlor, N Donoher; MJ Tierney, D Kingston, A Doran.

LOUTH(NFL V Sligo): N Gallagher; D Byrne, D Finnegan, R Greene; R F, A Hoey, J O'Brien; P Keenan, R Carroll; D Crilly, A McDonnell, M Brennan; C Judge, JP Rooney, B White.

DERRY(NFL v Dublin): B Gillis; B Og McAlary, G OKane, D McBride; C Kielt, M Lynch, L Hinphey; F Doherty, Patsy Bradley; J Diver, J Kielt, A Mc Cartney; E Lynn, C O'Boyle, A McLaughlin.