Dara O Cinneide returns to the Kerry line-up as they prepare to travel to Donegal in the hope of consolidating their position at the top of Division 1A of the National Football League. An away win would push them into the league semi-finals and end the hopes of their opponents advancing.
Although Kerry were successful last time out against Roscommon, the attack had a laboured look. Denis Dwyer, who played right-half forward in that match, and John Crowley, who lined out in the corner, both lose out. Liam Murphy from Gneeveguilla is the other player to come in.
Paidi O Se has persisted with Liam Hassett at full forward despite the fact that the Laune Rangers man had a fairly joyless afternoon there against Roscommon. Rathmore defender Tom O'Sullivan comes in at full back for Barry O'Shea, who is facing long-term rehabilitation after suffering severe ligament damage last time out.
Derry, who have set the standard in Division 1B, have also wrung the changes for a game against Down which could considerably alter the division's standings. Down, lethargic for much of the league, have awoken of late and a win against Derry could re-open a path to the play-offs for them.
All of the Derry changes are in the forward line. Barry Gillis, from the Magherafelt club, is named at wing forward, while Castledawson's Stephen McLarnon comes in at corner forward. Jonathan Niblock and Pat Bradley, who each hit a point from play during the ill-tempered draw against Meath, have been demoted.
The third alteration is a straight swap at full forward, with long-serving Ballinascreen-man Eamonn Burns stepping in for Joe Cassidy. Fermanagh, who have been quietly impressive throughout their campaign, could also push themselves to the verge of the play-offs should they defeat Clare this Saturday.
The availability of Rory Gallagher, who is contracted to play soccer with Portadown on the same afternoon, still hangs in the balance and his place on the Fermanagh team has been left vacant. Gallagher, recovering from a knee injury, will not start for Portadown and manager Ronnie McFall has intimated that he might release him for county duty.
"We still don't know what is going to happen. It is just an unfortunate clash and Rory is tied by contract to Portadown. But it's a problem which should not arise again," said Fermanagh secretary Paddy Donnelly yesterday. Peter Quinn replaces Michael Lilly at corner back and Raymond Johnson lines out at wing forward in place of Liam McBarron, who hit two points for the Ulster side during their loss to Down.
Clare have made one change in their starting line-up that which drew with Kildare in their last outing. Ronan Slattery, who came on as a substitute that day, keeps his place in the half back line.
Kildare will select their team to face Sligo tomorrow night and are denied the services of Ronan Quinn and Karl O'Dwyer due to injury.
Sean Og de Paor from Galway and Kerry's Dara O Cinneide are among the players who feature in Raidio Na Gaeltachta's Laochra Gaeltachta na Milaoise team. The dream team was selected from a panel of 80 players who participated in the Gaeltacht championship since its inception in 1969.
Kerry's Paidi O Se, Sean O'Driscoll of Cork and Martin McHugh from Donegal are among the former All-Ireland winners to feature on the team. Notable absences include Kerry's Dara O Se, Galway mid-fielder Sean O Domhnaill and Donegal forward Tony Boyle.
Kerry (v Donegal, Sunday) - D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan, E Galvin; S Moynihan, E Fitzmaurice, M Hassett; D O Se, D Daly; N Kennelly, D O Cinneide, A MacGearailt; MF Russell, L Hassett, L Murphy.
Derry (v Down, Saturday) - E McCloskey; D O'Neill, SM Lockhart, G Coleman; K McKeever, H Downey, P McFlynn; A Tohill, D Heaney; B Gilis, D Dougan, R Rocks; S McLarnon, E Burns, J McBride.
Fermanagh (v Clare, Saturday) - P Maguire; P Courtenay, P Quinn, P McGuinness; T Callaghan, T Collins, K Gallagher; P Brewster, M Greene; T Brewster, AN Other, R Johnson; Raymond Gallagher, S Maguire, S King.
Clare - J Hanrahan; B Keating, B Considine, C Whelan; P Gallagher, B Rouine, R Slattery; D O'Sullivan, G Quinlan; P McMahon, D Russell, D O'Driscoll; G Keane, C Considine, M Daly.
Westmeath (v Louth, Sunday) - A Lennon; P Rouse, D Brady, F Murray; D Healy, R Casey, M Murtagh; R O'Connell, D Gavin; G Heavin, J Cooney, J Corroon; J Fallon, P Conway, C Keane.
Tipperary (v Cavan, Saturday) - P Ryan; N Kelly, C O'Dwyer, L Cronin; D Byrne, D Peters, D Gleeson; F O'Callaghan, E Hanrahan; L England, D Hogan, S Maher; D O'Brien, J Carroll, D Browne.
Monaghan (v Longford, Sunday) - D McCarville; P McKenna, D Duffy, N Marron; D McArdle, R Treacy, M Slowey; C McCaul, D Clerkin; R Ronaghan, D Freeman, P O'Connor; D Smyth, M Daly, C Tavey.
