Gleeson's grit sees him back on Tipp team

TRIUMPHING over personal adversity, Conor Gleeson has re-gained a starting place on the Tipperary team to meet arch-rivals Cork in tomorrow's Guinness All-Ireland SHC qualifier at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

Gleeson has battled back to full fitness after missing the start of the season with a back injury and takes over the centre half-forward position from the injured Eddie Enright.

This is the only change from the side that defeated Limerick in the last round of qualifiers and manager Ken Hogan will be keeping his fingers crossed that the 28-year-old Boherlahan strongman will inject more power into his forward line.

Jason Stokes makes a return to the Limerick team for Sunday's Munster football final against Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds. The Drom-Broadford player man has missed most of the current season because of a leg injury, but is included at left half-forward on Liam Kearns' side.

Normally a midfielder, the selectors feel he has the physical presence to add weight to the forward division, where Johnny Murphy is the one to lose out from the team which beat Waterford in the semi-finals.

Damien and Michael Reidy have been relegated to the substitutes bench, and are replaced by Stephen Lavin, at wing back, and Stephen Kelly at right half-forward. Michael O'Brien, who lined out at half-forward last day, is now top of the left to accommodate Stokes. Goalkeeper Seamus O'Donnell, who had to leave the field in the semi because of injury, passed a fitness test last night.

Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney will make his first championship start of the season when the Orchard county take on Donegal in the Ulster SFC final at Croke Park on Sunday.

McGeeney, who captained the side to their historic All-Ireland victory two years ago, was sidelined with recurring groin and hamstring injuries. He now takes over the centre half-back duties from his understudy Andy McCann.

Both Philip Loughran and Diarmuid Marsden, who missed the semi-final victory over Cavan are fit again and are included in the starting fifteen. Loughran replaces John Toal at midfield, while Marsden is preferred to Martin O'Rourke at top of the left.

Victors over Waterford last weekend, Longford have announced an unchanged team for their All-Ireland SFC qualifier with Dublin at Portlaoise tomorrow.

TIPPERARY (SHC v Cork): B. Cummins; M. Maher, P. Maher, P. Curran; E. Corcoran, D. Fanning, D. Fitzgerald; C. Morrissey, P. Kelly; T. Dunne, C. Gleeson, B. Dunne; S. Butler, J. Carroll, E. Kelly.

LIMERICK (SFC v Kerry): S. O'Donnell; M. O'Riordan, J. McCarthy, T. Stack; C. Mullane, S. Lucey, S. Lavin; J. Quane, J. Galvin; S. Kelly, M. Gavin, J. Stokes; C. Fitzgerald, O. Keating, M. O'Brien.

ARMAGH (SFC v Donegal): P. Hearty; E. McNulty, F. Bellew, A. Mallon; K. Hughes, K. McGeeney, A. O'Rourke; P. Loughran, P. McGrane; P. McKeever, T. McEntee, O. McConville; S. McDonnell, R. Clarke, D. Marsden.

LONGFORD (SFC v Dublin): D. Sheridan; D. Brady, C. Conefrey, B. Burke; M. Mulleney, F. Ledwith, D. Reilly; L. Keenan, D. Hannify; A. O'Connor, P. Barden, T. Smullen. D. Barden, N. Sheridan, P. Davis.