Kavanagh and McCarthy back against Fermanagh
Both were injured in the opening game of the competition against Westmeath and have been battling to regain full fitness since.
Noel O’Leary, Anthony Lynch and Ciaran O’Sullivan were ruled out of this one because of injury, while both Miceál O’Sullivan and Kevin McMahon will be on duty with their club, Carbery Rangers, in the All-Ireland club junior football championship.
Kavanagh takes over the full-back position, with Graham Canty moving to midfield in place of the absent O’Sullivan. Gary Murphy steps into the centre-half back breach vacated by the injured Lynch, while McCarthy deputises for McMahon at left-half forward.
Tipperary are confident of having star player Declan Browne available for their game with Derry at Thurles on Sunday.
The free-scoring full-forward missed the last two matches because of injury but trained with the squad last night and reported no ill-effects.
Clare, who take on London at Cusack Park, are equally hopeful of having Pádraig Gallagher back. He missed the Banner’s last two games because of a leg injury but turned out with his club at the weekend.
Sligo’s hopes of winning the Connacht championship this season have received a major boost with the return from South America of two of their leading players, Kevin Quinn and John McGarrity.
Both have been domiciled in Peru and Bolivia for the past year but arrived home lately. Quinn lined out at full-forward in last weekend’s Connacht league and both he and McGarrity are short-listed for places on the side to meet Meath at Markievicz Park in the League on Sunday. However, regular corner-forward Gerry McGowen has been ruled out because of a dislocated shoulder.
The versatile Mark Stanfield looks all set to play his first League match of the season for Louth, who play host to Waterford on Sunday. Stanfield has been out of action since last year’s championship because of a groin injury, but is reported to be going well in training.
Galway will be without Damien Burke, Darren Mullally, Derek Savage and Kevin Brady for their showdown with Cavan at Breffni Park. Burke, Mullally and Savage are all on the injured list, while Brady is currently under suspension.
Oisín McConville is hopeful of taking his place on the Armagh side for Sunday’s crucial League tie with table-toppers Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds. The Crossmaglen Rangers ace was taken to hospital with a leg injury after the former All-Ireland champions game with Meath a fortnight ago. At first it was feared that he had sustained a fracture but subsequent X-rays revealed damaged blood vessels and heavy bruising.
Limerick, just 70 minutes away from an historic first appearance in the semi-finals, are encouraged that midfielder John Quane and top scorer Muiris Gavin are available for the clash.
Both players missed out on their last outing against Sligo, which ended in a draw. Limerick, with just one defeat since their elevation to Division 1B, to Galway, are concerned, though, about the availability of their captain Thomas Stack, injured playing for his club Drom-Broadford at the weekend. However, a team spokesman said they were optimistic about his chances of taking his place in defence.
(SF v Fermanagh): K. O’Dwyer; S. O’Brien, D. Kavanagh, N. O’Donovan; E. Sexton, G. Murphy, M. Cronin; D. Hurley, G. Canty; A. Cronin, C. McCarthy, M. McCarthy; P. Clifford, F. Murray, C. Crowley.
