Michael Maguire makes a return to the Cork football team for Sunday's National Football League match against Kildare in Newbridge. Goalkeeper Maguire (31) was a long-time understudy to John Kerins and was on the bench during the two All-Ireland triumphs of 1989 and '90. After Kerins's retirement, the goalkeeping position went to Kevin O'Dwyer and, more recently, to Pat Mackey.
Maguire's form with his club Castlehaven has, according to Cork selector Paddy Sheahan, been exceptional and so he earns a call-up three weeks before the club feature in the All-Ireland semi-final against Erin's Isle of Dublin.
Colin Corkery is back in training but - in Sheahan's euphemistic terms - "has a lot to do". Otherwise, there is nothing of particular note to report from the camp. None of the county's three Railway Cup representatives - Joe Kavanagh, Fachtna Collins or Pat Hegarty - covered themselves in glory in Killarney at the weekend, although Kavanagh took a couple of good late points.
Sunday's opponents Kildare have injury problems surrounding Eddie McCormack and John Finn, but are likely to welcome back All Star Glen Ryan, who played the second half of the Railway Cup semi-final for Leinster. Although some way short of full fitness, he is expected to be named in the starting 15 when Mick O'Dwyer and his selectors pick the team tonight.
Clare bring in former London player Senan Hehir at centre-field for the clash with Down in Ennis. His previous outings for the county had been at full forward. At the back, Frankie Griffin returns after injury for only his second match of the campaign but the 102nd league outing of his career.
He is moved from the familiar full back position in which he was nominated as an All Star to the corner where his detail is presumably to look after the visiting Mickey Linden.
Down also name their team today, but there is speculation that the final selection may wait until the weekend as Paul O'Higgins is appealing a suspension at Central Council on Saturday. If he is successful, a quick call-up may be on the cards as full back Brian Burns will miss the match through injury.
Ulster make two changes for Sunday's Railway Cup replay against an unchanged Connacht side in Clones. Mickey Linden misses out because of Down's league fixture in Ennis, but he is the only first-choice casualty of the clash with the Section D programme this weekend. Linden was replaced during the drawn match anyway because of a tightening of his hamstring and his replacement during the match, Anthony Tohill, retains his place on the team with Cavan's Dermot McCabe switching to his All Star position of wing forward.
Tyrone's Gerard Cavlan, who went in for Fermanagh's Raymond Gallagher at the start of extra time in Roscommon, also holds his place, with team captain Peter Canavan moving into the corner from centre forward. Monaghan goalkeeper John O'Connor goes into the substitutes in place of Down's Mickey McVeigh.
Cork (SF v Kildare): M Maguire; D Wiseman, R McCarthy, O Sexton; S Og O hAilpin, B Corcoran, M Cronin; F Collins, N Murphy; A Dorgan, S O'Brien, C O'Sullivan; J Kavanagh, P Hegarty, A O'Regan. Subs: K O'Dwyer, M O'Donovan (Doheny's), B Collins, C Crowley, B Walsh, M Hayes, M Monaghan.
Clare (SF v Down): J Hanrahan; A Malone, B Rouine, F Griffin; B Keating capt, P Gallagher, D O'Driscoll; S Hehir, D O'Sullivan; G Keane, F McInerney, P McMahon; J Enright, P Cosgrove, M Daly. Subs: F Maguire, E McGuane, M Lidane, C Shannon, G Quinlan, N Hall, D Russell, T Morrissey, M Galvin, C O'Loughlin.
Connacht: P Burke; K Mortimer (both Mayo), G Fahy (Galway), F Costello; D Heaney, J Nallen (all Mayo), S Og de Paor (Galway); P Fallon, D Brady (both Mayo); L Dowd (Roscommon), E O'Hara (Sligo), C McManamon; K McDon- ald (both Mayo), A Cullen (Leitrim), P Taylor (Sligo).
Ulster (SF v Connacht): F McConnell (Tyrone); P Devlin (Tyrone), J J Doherty (Donegal), G Coleman (Derry); N Hegarty (Donegal), H Downey (Derry), K McGeeney (Armagh); J Burns (Armagh), A Tohill (Derry); D McCabe (Cavan), G Cavlan (Tyrone), P McGrane (Armagh); P Reilly (Cavan), T Boyle (Donegal), P Canavan (Tyrone). Subs: J O'Connor (Monaghan), C Lawn (Tyrone), M Mulholland (Antrim), B Morris (Cavan), C Brady (Cavan), P Brewster (Fermanagh), J McGuinness (Donegal), R Gallagher (Fermanagh), D Marsden (Armagh).
