Walsh in Kingdom promotion

EXCITING teenage prospect Donncha Walsh from Cromane will make his senior intercounty debut when Kerry take on Dublin in the Allianz NFL at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, on Sunday.

An outstanding minor midfield player for the past two seasons, Walsh has been chosen to play at left half-forward in a side that shows a number of changes from that which lost to Galway in the last round.

Declan O’Keeffe replaces Diarmuid Murphy in goal. Michael McCarthy takes over the full-back position from team captain Barry O’Shea, who suffered a dead leg in a club game last weekend. Marc O’Shea moves to left corner-back and Diarmuid O’Sullivan comes in to replace out of bounds Colm Cooper. Right corner-forward Declan Quill takes over the captaincy.

Fresh from his Sigerson Cup exploits with UCD, the Dublin selectors have named Liam Óg Ó hÉineacháin at left half-forward on their team.

The young Kilmacud-Crokes star came on as a substitute in the Dubs last game against Tyrone and popped over the match-winning point.

The Dublin selectors have made four changes in personnel. Barry Cahill, who has recovered from a leg injury, is recalled at right corner-back in place of David Heaney while Shane Ryan is preferred to Johnny Magee at centre half-back. hÉineacháin is introduced on the left wing with Roy Cosgrove, who is free to play after a four weeks ban, takes over at full-forward. Senan Connell and John McNally are sitting out the start of this one.

Limerick, on the crest of a wave, welcome back Diarmuid Sheehy for their Division Two A top of the table clash with Westmeath at Mullingar on Sunday.

Sheehy missed the last few games after breaking a bone in his hand and he takes over the full-back berth from John Cormican.

Clare have made three changes from the side that narrowly lost to Carlow last time out for their game with unbeaten Wexford at Cusack Park on Sunday.

Full-back and captain Donal O’Sullivan returns after injury, as does centre-back Paddy Gallagher, who has been sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.

Midfield player Brian Considine resumes after missing the last game because of accountancy examinations.

Incidentally, Wexford have never lost at Cusack Park.

Laois, soaring high on top of the Division One B table, will have Hugh Emerson back after injury for their home game with Down at Portlaoise on Sunday. Railway Cup star Emerson resumes his customary full-forward berth with Michael Lawlor moving to left half-forward in place of Kieran Kelly.

Roscommon won’t decide on their starting lineup until just before their game with All-Ireland champions Armagh at Crossmaglen on Sunday. But midfield player Seamus O’Neill, who came on as a sub in the last game against Cork, is expected to gain a first team place on this occasion.

Kildare have been forced to make three changes for their home tie with Fermanagh at Newbridge on Sunday. Brian Lacey is suspended and Dermot Earley and Derek McCormack are out because of injury.

David Lyons receives his call up as stand-in for Lacey. Kieran Brennan takes over Earley’s midfield spot while Padraic Brennan fills McCormack’s talented shoes.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has called up just one of his seven Errigal Ciaran players for the Division One A clash with Donegal at Coalisland.

John Devine takes over in goal from Pascal McConnell for the visit of Brian McEniff’s struggling side.

Devine, who continued as standby goalkeeper despite the withdrawal of the other Errigal players during their All-Ireland campaign, “deserves a run-out after sitting on the bench for three games,” according to Harte.

Brian Dooher drops back to defence in place of injured half-back Declan McCrossan while Stephen O’Neill has recovered from an elbow injury and comes back into the half-forward line.

The side is otherwise the same as that which lost by a point to Dublin last time out, but Harte is in the happier position of having a much stronger squad at his disposal this Sunday.

Leaders Wexford will be minus a number of key players for their Division Two B clash with Clare in Ennis next Sunday.

Philip Wallace, Robert Mageean, Leigh O'Brien, Thomas Howlin and Scott Doran are all on the injury list.

Kerry (SF v Dublin): D OKeeffe; T O’Sullivan, M McCarthy, M O’Se; T O’Se, S Moynihan, J Sheehan; D O’Se, D Daly; S O’Sullivan, E Brosnan,

D Walsh; D Quill, D O’Cinneide, D O’Sullivan.

Dublin (SF v Kerry): S Cluxton; B Cahill,

P Christie, P Griffen; P Casey, S Ryan, C Coggins; C Whelan, D Magee; C Moran, B Cullen, L Óg hÉineacháin; A Brogan, R Cosgrove, T Quinn.

Limerick (SF v Westmeath): S O’Donnell; M Riordan, D Sheehy, P Stack; S Evans, S Lucey, P Browne; J Galvin, J Quane; S Kelly, J Murphy, C Mullane; M Gavin, J Stokes, J Reily.

Clare (SF v Wexford): D O’Brien; C Whelan, D O’Sullivan, K Nugent; D Heddigan, P Gallagher, M O’Connell; B Considine, P Cosgrove; M O’Dwyer, O O’Dwyer, D O’Driscoll; P McMahon, M O’Shea, S Hickey.

Laois (SF v Down): F Byron; T Kelly, C Byrne, J Higgins; D Rooney, K Fitzpatrick, D Conroy; P Clancy, N Garvan; C Conway, I Fitzgerald, M Lawlor; B McDonald, H Emerson, D Delaney.

Kildare (SF v Fermanagh): E Murphy; E Callaghan, D Hendy, A McLoughlin; D Lyons, G Ryan, A Rainbow; K Brennan, R Sweeney; K Ennis, T Rossiter, J Doyle; P Brennan, A McHugh, T Fennin.

Tyrone (v Donegal): J Devine, R McMenamin, C Holmes, C Gormley, B Dooher, G Devlin, P Jordan, R Mellon, K Hughes, S Mulgrew, B McGuigan, S O’Neill, F McGuigan, O Mulligan, S Cavanagh.

Subs: P McConnell, P Canavan, D Carlin, G Cavlan, C Gourley, M Harte, P Loughran, D McCrossan, M McGee, C McGinley, E McGinley, B Robinson, M Coleman, K McCrory, P Donnelly.

Wexford SF: J Cooper, C Morris A N Other, N Murphy, R Mallon, D Murphy, P Curtis, W Carley, R Hassey, J Hudson, D Breen, M Forde, P Carley, P Colfer, J Hegarty.

Galway SF (v Cork): A Keane,

M Comer, G Fahy, R Fahy, K Brady, K Fitzgerald, S Og De Paor, J Diffley, K Comer, M Clancy,

P Joyce, D O’Brien, M Meehan, D Savage, T Joyce.