GAELIC GAMES/All-Ireland SFC Final Countdown: Dara Ó Cinnéide has won back his place in the Kerry team, and has been named at left corner forward for Sunday's All-Ireland football final against Tyrone at Croke Park.

As anticipated manager Jack O'Connor last night opted to drop the young and inexperienced Bryan Sheehan, who is among the substitutes, and that opened up a space in the forward line.

Ó Cinnéide, Mike Frank Russell and Declan Quill were the main contenders to fill the position. All three appeared as second-half substitutes in last month's semi-final win over Cork - in fact Ó Cinnéide replaced Sheehan.

Ó Cinnéide thus starts in his fifth All-Ireland senior final, chasing his fourth winner's medal.

There can't be too many arguments about his inclusion. The 29-year-old broadcaster with Radio na Gaeltachta captained the team to last year's win over Mayo, having initially battled to recover from a lower back injury.

This summer Ó Cinnéide has been consistent without being outstanding, and lost his place after Kerry's quarter-final win over Mayo.

O'Connor, however, has never been slow to alter his starting line-up if players impress at training, which is clearly the case with Ó Cinnéide.

Ó Cinnéide's recall is the only change from the team that started against Cork on August 28th, with the defence and midfield holding up as expected.

Sheehan made his first senior start for Kerry in that match, and while the 20-year-old didn't do a whole lot wrong (kicking two frees), he appeared to be acting more as a decoy for Colm Cooper's more destructive runs. His inexperience was going to come against him when it came to the selection to face Tyrone, and from one to 15 Kerry now have a team that screams of experience.

Ó Cinnéide's return means only two of this Sunday's line-up didn't start in last year's final - Séamus Moynihan and Darragh Ó Sé. They were troubled with injury at the time, although Moynihan came on as a substitute.

There are also 10 survivors from the starting line-up of the semi-final meeting with Tyrone in 2003, with the absentees being goalkeeper Declan O'Keeffe (retired), Eamonn Fitzmaurice (on the bench), John Sheehan, Seán O'Sullivan and Russell.

Team captain Declan O'Sullivan was unlikely to be moved from full forward, and so Russell will perhaps feel most unlucky to miss out on the recall - although he is certain to see some action.

O'Connor this week reiterated his selection policy, which is heavily influenced by the performances of his players at training and not just on match days, saying: "I think it has to be. There's usually a month between matches, and that's a long time. Anyone can lose form in a month, even a racehorse. So you have to see how fellas are going.

"It's a long season as well, and some players get stronger as the season goes on. So I do put a lot of emphasis on the performances at training. I mean Johnny Crowley got into the starting line-up last year on his form in the month before the final.

"He only played five minutes of the semi-final, but tore into the training after that, gave it a real lash, and got in there on merit for the final. And it's a good thing that players know that, and don't come to training every night just going through the motions."

In total, five of the Kerry squad will be going for their fourth All-Ireland senior medal - adding to those won in 1997, 2000 and last year. They are Ó Cinnéide, Moynihan, Darragh Ó Sé, Liam Hassett and Russell.

Ó Sé missed last year's final because of an ankle injury, but fully deserved a medal having steered Kerry towards the final on several occasions during the summer.

Tyrone will announce their starting line-up tomorrow evening, with the main question surrounding the role of Peter Canavan - will he start or be held in reserve on the bench?