Gaelic Games: Graham Geraghty is back into the Meath team for Sunday's Leinster football quarter-final against Westmeath at Croke Park. He hasn't appeared for the county since last summer's championship, which ended in defeat to Donegal in the qualifiers, and had retired from football to concentrate on a new career in rugby.
But having returned to the panel last month just in time for a training trip to Portugal, Geraghty was quickly back in contention for a starting place and was named last night in his familiar full-forward position.
There are, however, four championship debuts, with half back Tomas O'Connor, midfielder Charles McCarthy, half forward Shane McKeigue and corner forward Daithí O'Regan all getting their chances.
As expected Ollie Murphy and Nigel Crawford were ruled out through injury, with David Crimmins, who appeared as a substitute last year, starting at left-corner forward. Team captain Darren Fay is at full back, with Niall McKeigue, who also appeared briefly last year, getting a place in the full-back line.
Westmeath have lost the services of substitute Kenny Larkin in controversial circumstances. Larkin suffered a broken jaw in the challenge game with Down last Sunday during an incident with James McCartan. Defenders David Kilmartin suffered a shoulder injury in the same game.
Dublin hurling manager Marty Morris has made two team changes - one enforced - for Saturday's Leinster preliminary final replay against Laois, which returns to Nowlan Park in Kilkenny for another 7.0 throw-in.
Suspension had ruled out midfielder Keith Wilson following his straight red-card in the drawn game last Saturday, and Darragh Spain is his indirect replacement by starting at centre back. Conal Keaney resumes duties at midfield having been named at centre back the last day, and will be partnered by Stephen McDonnell.
Tommy Moore also gets a starting place ahead of Ger Ennis in the half-forward line. Damien Russell, Carl Meehan and Moore now cover the half-forward line, with the full-forward line consisting of Tomas McGrane, Shane Martin and Kevin Flynn. Keith Elliott was also red carded last weekend but for a second bookable offence and so is free to play.
Limerick and Waterford will later today announce their teams to play in Sunday's first Munster hurling semi-final at Thurles. The main question for Limerick's Dave Keane is what role to hand to youngsters Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Pat Kirby, who both start their Leaving Certificate exams the following Wednesday.
O'Shaughnessy, still only 18, appeared as a substitute last summer against Cork, while Kirby, younger still at 17, had featured throughout the league.
Louth, meanwhile, have finalised their team to play Dublin in Sunday's opening game at Croke Park, with John Neary returning from injury to start at left-half back, an indirect replacement for Paddy Keenan. Barry Clarke moves from the position to take over from Keenan in the half-forward line, with Nicky McDonell moving across to the right.
Captain Aaron Hoey is again at full back, Ken Reilly and Seamus O'Hanlon at midfield, and the familiar full-forward line of Ollie McDonnell, Mark Stanfield and JP Rooney.
Elsewhere Kerry football manager Páidí Ó Sé is now resigned to being without defender Mossy Lyons for their championship campaign because the shoulder injury that has troubled Lyons in recent weeks now requires an operation.
Other injuries concerns include Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan, though Marc Ó Sé, Aodhan MacGearailt and Dara Ó Cinneide are ready to resume after recent their lay-offs.
Meanwhile there was good news for Wexford manager John Conran in that attacker Barry Goff will be fit to play against Offaly in their Leinster senior hurling championship semi-final on Sunday. Goff broke a bone in his hand against Clare in their league game on April 20th.
MEATH(SF v Westmeath): C Sullivan; M O'Reilly, D Fay, N McKeigue; P Reynolds, H Traynor, T O'Connor; C McCarthy, N Nestor; E Kelly, T Giles, S McKeigue; D Regan, G Geraghty, D Crimmins.
DUBLIN (SH v Laois): B McLoughlin; P Brennan, S Perkins, K Elliott; S Hiney, D Spain, K Ryan; S McDonnell, C Keaney; D Russell, C Meehan, T Moore; T McGrane, S Martin, K Flynn.
LOUTH (SF v Dublin): S Reynolds; A Page, A Hoey, D Brennan; S Gerard, P McGinnity, J Neary; K Reilly, S O'Hanlon; B Clarke, M Farrelly, N McDonnell; O McDonnell, M Stanfield, JP Rooney.
DUBLIN (JF v Offaly): A Durnan; L Browne, M Fitzpatrick, F Condron; B Byrne, K Kavanagh, C Prenderville; D Noonan, D Bastic; G Smith, M Whelan, AN Other; P Murtagh, B McEvoy, N Crossan.
