Armagh and Dublin have each made one change for Sunday's National League semi-final replay at Croke Park. Dublin have introduced Brendan O'Brien at corner forward instead of Ray Cosgrove while Armagh have again left a vacancy at full forward because of the injury to Des Mackin.
Last week the vacancy was filled by Oisin McConville, who had what is regarded by many in the county as his best match in the Armagh colours. He is named in his club position at left wing forward for Sunday with Diarmuid Marsden moving from the half line to left corner forward - although it will be no surprise if Marsden lines out at centre forward where he made an intermittent impact in the drawn match.
This week's vacancy depends on Cathal O'Rourke's fitness which will again be tested on the Saturday evening as it was last week. The injury forced him out of the quarter-final as well as the drawn semi-final.
Should O'Rourke be deemed unfit to play, the likely selection will be Peter Loughran who acquitted himself well last week when coming on after Mackin injured his hamstring.
Dublin's injury situation is unchanged with centre back Ian Robertson still unable to shake off a groin injury but centre forward Declan Darcy is fit again. Although he played last week, it was obvious that he was inhibited by a heavily-strapped leg.
Paul Curran, who had a fine match deputising for Robertson, again moves over from the wing with Tomo Lynch continuing to fill in for him on the wing.
Brendan O'Brien has played quite often during the current league and will have a chance to further his claims for permanent inclusion.
Jason Sherlock would have been the obvious replacement but he is unable to play because of soccer commitments with Shamrock Rovers.
In relation to the final, speculation has been growing all week that should Dublin win Sunday's replay, the match against Cork will be fixed for Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Cork's county board has raised the matter of an agreement between the counties governing knockout stages in the league.
In 1987, Dublin won choice of venue for that year's quarter-final on the toss of a coin and the match was played in Croke Park. The controversial refusal of Cork to play extra-time which earned them expulsion from the competition was partly based on a belief that the home-and-away arrangement entitled them to a replay in Cork.
Apart from the 1989 National Football League final - which was governed by an early GAC decision and played at Croke Park - the counties haven't met since.
John Costello, the Dublin county secretary, says that there is no record of the agreement between the county boards but that this isn't too surprising as the officers of the time, chairman Phil Markey and secretary Jim King, have both since passed away.
Given that the Cork board is fairly sure about the arrangement, it is believed that Dublin won't argue the matter too much if they qualify for the final.
Although there has been no confirmation from Australia, the dates for this autumn's International Rules series have been unofficially set for October 8th and 15th, both Fridays. Venues are believed to be the MCG in Melbourne and the home of the Adelaide Crows, current premiership holders.
No sponsor has yet been announced either with Coca Cola who sponsored the series in Dublin last year, currently concentrating on their role as major sponsors for next year's millennium Sydney Olympics.
The GAA's own year 2000 project, the Team of the Millennium, which is to be announced in two month's time, is expected to have its selectors named within the next couple of weeks. The matter is currently with association president Joe McDonagh who will finalise details of the selection panel.
The Limerick Gaelic grounds is to be given a £4 million face lift, which should be completed next year.
Dublin (SF v Armagh): D Byrne; P Moran, S Ryan, P Christie; T Lynch, P Curran, K Galvin; C Whelan, E Sheehy; J Gavin, D Darcy, B Stynes; N O'Donoghue, D Farrell, B O'Brien.
Armagh: B Tierney; E McNulty, G Reid, M McNeill; K Hughes, K McGeeney, A McCann; J Burns, P McGrane; J Rafferty, J McNulty, O McConville; P McKeever, AN Other, D Marsden.
Monaghan (under-21 v Westmeath): J Sullivan; C Flanagan, P Coyle, P McKenna; P McGuigan, K McQuaid, JP Mone; J McElroy, D Connolly; J McDaid, P O'Connor, S McManus; N Clerkin, C Tavey, J Mone.
