JOHN TREANOR will lead the Down attack in the Ulster senior football championship tie against Donegal in Clones next Sunday. The 32 year old Treanor, better known as Shorty, has not played championship football for six years.
Greg Blaney will be making his first appearance in the Down shirt, since last year's first round defeat by Sunday's opponents. Blaney has, been selected at left corner forward, the position in which he made his intercounty football debut in 1981 and significantly on the same flank. as his close team mate James McCartan.
Three other players included - goalkeeper Mick McFay, corner back Finbar Caulfield and right half forward Pat Sloan - will be making. championship debuts.
Manager Peter McGrath defends the decision to reintroduce Treanor on the forty. "John is an excellent play maker and has been playing particularly well for his club, Burren. I contacted him before Christmas and his displays in the McKenna Cup have been impressive.
Treanor has had what could best be described as a chequered career. His last appearance in a championship match was against Armagh in the Ulster semi final replay of 1990. He made two subsequent attempts to become part of McGrath's championship plans but a knee injury in the 1992 season and a three month suspension arising from a sending off in a National League quarter final against Kerry in 1993 frustrated both attempts.
"I am delighted to be given the chance," said Treanor yesterday. "For me it is something to really look forward to."
Treanor will be flanked by Pat Sloan and James McCartan in a new look Down half forward line. "We have had to compromise because of injuries to Ross Carr" (knee), Barry Breen (thigh) and Eamon Burns (knee)," said McGrath. Breen is optimistically named in the substitutes.
Neil Collins, who made the match winning penalty save from Charlie Redmond in the 1994 All Ireland final, loses out to Mick, McFay in goal. The game will be televised live by UTV with RTE taking the second half live.
Meanwhile, Donegal cannot be sure of the services of injured Tony Boyle (ankle), Barry McGowan (knee) and Martin Shovlin (shoulder) for Sunday's game. With midfielder Brian Murray already ruled out with an ankle injury manager, manager P J McGowan and this co selectors may have to the midnight oil when attempting to name their side this evening.
Connacht champions Galway also hope to announce their side this evening to take on Sligo in, Markievicz Park but manager Bosco McDermott is resigned to losing seven of his first choice players because of injury.
"We have heard it all before from other quarters," said Sligo manager P J Carroll. "Personally, I treat this talk with a grain of salt."
However, McDermott says there are doubts about the availability of Kevin Walsh (groin), Ray Silke (knee), Fergal O'Neill (back), Conor McGauran (back), Mark Kelly and Brendan Duffy. Already ruled out are Tomas Mann ion, Val Daly and Damien Mitchell.
Wicklow manager Dave Foran will be able to name his side tonight from a full panel for Sunday's Leinster football clash with Carlow. This means that Hugh Kenny, who failed a fitness test on a ankle strain before the match against Longford a fortnight ago, is confident of being fit.
The Munster senior hurling championship gets under way next Sunday with the live TV coverage of the Cork Limerick match in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Ger Manley cannot be considered because of injury but Alan Browne, who had to have stitches in a nasty leg wound, is likely to play.
Laois hurler Joe Dollard got a severe knock on the head while playing for his club Camross against his former club Castletown in a county hurling league tie at the weekend. He was detained in hospital on Saturday and Sunday.
