Joe Kernan has poured cold water on suggestions that Stephen McDonnell will miss the re-run of last year's Ulster championship final against Donegal. Reports over the weekend had McDonnell as a major doubt for the trip to Clones on Sunday, but soundings from Armagh indicate a full-strength panel.

"Don't worry, he will be starting," said Kernan. "We have a clean bill of health. I think that was just a bit of scaremongering, Steven was training last week."

Things were not so bright in the Donegal camp as Brian McEniff ruled out corner back Niall McCready and goalkeeper Paul Durkin with ankle injuries.

However, Adrian Sweeney came through recent training and is expected to be named tonight. Having recovered from a knee operation, Brendan Boyle is another key player McEniff hopes to utilise right from off against the Ulster champions.

"I spoke to him on the phone and he is fine," said McEniff, who is in no doubt of the challenge awaiting Donegal. "Ulster football is strong and tense at the moment. We perhaps caught a Tyrone side that were not up to speed last year and were found out by Armagh. We were unable to stand up to the pace and didn't do anything of note until the second half. It is good to have a shot at them again as we can measure ourselves against them."

Donegal prepared for Armagh with a recent three-point defeat to Galway, who play Leitrim in the Connacht semi-final this weekend at Pearse Stadium.

Peter Ford will send out a team without midfielder Joe Bergin and corner backs Richie Fahey and Clive Monaghan. More worrying, though, is that captain Pádraic Joyce has yet to train since hurting his ankle playing for Killererin two weeks back.

Also, a dose of the mumps has afflicted the panel recently, with Bergin and Seán Armstrong falling ill, but Armstrong is still expected to make his championship debut, while Derek Savage is also available to bolster the attack. Both missed the match against New York, but should be in the starting XV on Thursday.

Cork will release their side for the Munster football semi-final against Clare tonight with Graham Canty back in the frame, along with a number of potential debutants in James Masters, John Hayes and Fintan Gould.

In hurling, Kilkenny are expected to unleash the same team that started the league final against Clare last month for the Leinster semi-final against Offaly. That means Richie Power and Brian Barry will make their championship debuts.

Wexford are waiting on several players, including Darragh Stamp (hand) and Darragh Ryan (knee), before naming a side to face Laois in the other semi-final.

Clare corner back Gerry O'Grady has been ruled out for up to six weeks after having a cast put on his ankle, but, due to swelling, it couldn't be confirmed whether he's sustained a fracture.

Another victim from the weekend was Meath replacement Shane McKeigue who dislocated his shoulder against Dublin. He will certainly miss the first round qualifier on Saturday week.

Meanwhile, Eugene Cloonan is considered doubtful for Galway's opening hurling qualifier match the weekend after next. A long-term back injury is keeping him out of training.

Cork County Board chairman Jim Forbes has said Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be ready for the Munster hurling final on June 26th between Cork and Tipperary. The wooden seating on the uncovered side of the ground was removed earlier this year and replaced with bucket seats, but there were complaints of little space once big crowds arrived - as was evident from the Cork v Kilkenny league encounter.

But Forbes insisted there was "no problem" regarding the temporary seating that will also be in place for the Munster football final, if played there, on July 10th.