Teague central to Tyrone's defence

Sean Teague has reclaimed his place in the Tyrone side for Sunday's Ulster championship clash with Armagh.

Sean Teague has reclaimed his place in the Tyrone side for Sunday's Ulster championship clash with Armagh.

Teague, who captained the Red Hand side to the Ulster title last season, hasn't started a game since the early stages of the league.

But, last night, he was named at centre back, with Ciarán Gourley moving over to the left wing, and Philip Jordan losing out.

The team is otherwise unchanged from that which defeated Cavan in the National League final.

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Injury concerns over Brian Dooher and Brian McGuigan have cleared up, and both are included.

McGuigan went through a fitness test on a hamstring at Edendork last night, and plays at corner forward.

The Ardboe man is wary of an Armagh side which has been preparing quietly in the shadows while Tyrone have been stealing all the limelight.

"Armagh have been very quiet, and that's the danger," he said. "They have had a training camp in Spain, and they will be well focused for it, the spirit and morale in their camp will be good. They'll be well up for it.

"We know they'll come out with all guns blazing, they'll be out for revenge, for they thought they had a good chance of winning it last year, and that they let everybody down."

The arrival of Joe Kernan as manager has given Armagh hopes an added lift, and McGuigan feels the input of the former All-Ireland Club Championship winning manager will be of huge benefit to the Orchard side. "The team will want to help him get off to a good start, and to show their supporters that they mean business this year."

After being used as an impact sub in the earlier rounds of the National League, the Ardboe man is now a regular fixture, and has already repaid the faith shown in him by managers McRory and McKenna with a string of excellent performances.

"It's great to be starting. I was always grateful to get in, no matter how long it was, as long as I was getting on."

Tyrone: P Ward, C Gormley, C Lawn, B Robinson, R McMenamin, S Teague, C Gourley, C McAnallen, C Holmes, B Dooher, S O'Neill, G Cavlan, B McGuigan, K Hughes, P Canavan. Subs: J Devine, D McCrossan, P Jordan, S Cavanagh, S McCallan, R Thornton, C McGinely, Pascal Canavan, S Mulgrew, J Quinn, B McGuckin.