PASCAL CANAVAN, who has missed all three of Tyrone's championship matches to date, returns to the side which will face Derry for a third successive year in the Ulster football semi-final. Canavan has been kept out of action by a combination of suspension and injury, but is now available to take up position at centrefield in place of Ger Cavlan.
Tyrone's performances so far have been lack-lustre and the team is generally agreed to be very lucky to have survived Armagh's challenge in the last round. Manager Danny Ball and his selectors have made four changes from that match and welcome back Fergal Logan as well as Canavan.
Paul O'Neill, replaced at half-time the last day, is dropped and his position at full back goes to Chris Lawn moving from the left corner, so allowing Fay Devlin to revert to his most familiar positioning with Logan returning at centre back. At left wing back Ronan McGarrity replaces Sean McLaughlin.
The final change is in attack where Brian Dooher, who has been cursed with injury, is finally fit to start a match. He replaces Kieran McBride.
Dooher's introduction is a significant boost to the team as his form has been good when introduced in all three matches to date. In addition, he had a very good match against Derry last year.
Meanwhile, Louth who play Offaly at Navan in the first Leinster semi-final at the weekend have made two changes to the team that survived a Carlow fightback in Newbridge four weeks ago.
Both alterations are in attack. David Reilly replaces Brendan Kerin at centre forward, a change made late in the first-round match, and at right corner forward, Pat Butterly comes in for Aaron Hoey. Given the team's epic wastefulness against Carlow - when they shot 17, wides, more than twice their opponents total - it was predictable that some change would be made.
Good news for one of next week's Leinster semi-finalists came with the news that Kildare pair Johnny McDonald and Martin Lynch - who were sent off within
10 minutes of the start of the remarkable first-round encounter with Laois - will be eligible for selection for Sunday week's Croke Park match with Meath.
Last night, Dublin football manager Mickey Whelan met senior county officers. Whelan's future as manager has been a matter of speculation since Dublin's defeat by Meath two weeks ago. He still has a year of his three-year appointment to run and has indicated that he wishes to see out his term.
No decision will be finalised until the next county board meeting on July 7th when his re-appointment is expected to be recommended by the executive. In the meantime, Whelan is taking a couple of weeks' holiday.
In the wake of Sunday's crowed-control embarrassment during the Leinster hurling semi-finals at Croke Park, the Leinster Council has issued its arrangements for the final on July 13th. The main provisions concern admission policy for juveniles.
The influx of children admitted free of charge was one of the factors blamed for - last weekend's fiasco. For the final, 1,000 children each from Wexford and Kilkenny will be allowed free admission to the match the distribution to be left up to the county boards.
A new concession is being introduced for the occasion. Two children's tickets at £3 each can be purchased along with every adult ticket and separate sections of the Hogan and the New Stands are being set aside for the purpose.
Otherwise, admission to both stands is all-ticket, £12 each, and senior citizens will be accommodated free of charge in the Nally Stand. Admission to the terraces will be by cash, £7 and £3 for students and children. Wheelchair passes, £10, for the New Stand are available on application.
This year's Feile na nOg begins this afternoon in Ballybofey, county Donegal. The annual under-14 boys' and girls' football tournament. Fifty teams from around the country and 54 from the host county will participate and the finals take place on Sunday. It will be officially opened by GAA president Joe McDonagh this afternoon.
