Flaherty given nod in only change for Gaeltacht

KERRY and Munster champions An Ghaeltacht have made one change in their team for Sunday's AIB All- Ireland club football semi-final against St Brigid's in Semple Stadium, Thurles (2pm).

With team trainer Feargal Ó Sé ruled out by suspension, Ronan Flaherty comes in at wing-back, with Daithi Fitzgerald switching to the corner. Aodan MacGearailt starts after recovering from a recent injury.

The game is being played at 2pm to facilitate TG4's live coverage and to avoid a clash with RTÉ's broadcast of Ireland's Six Nations meeting with Wales (3pm).

"It makes more sense to do it that way," commented TG4 Sports Editor, Ronan Ó Coisdealbha. "That had been agreed a month-and-a-half ago after we consulted with the GAC. Both clubs were aware of the decision to start the game at 2pm."

St Brigid's have left a vacancy at left corner-forward. The position was filled by John Noonan in the Leinster final win on December 7 and he is one of several players in contention. Defender Barry Cahill, out for eight months, has declared himself fit.

Caltra are "unsure" about the fitness of star forward Micheál Meehan, who is recovering from a hip injury he received a fortnight ago playing for NUIG in the Sigerson Cup.

He missed their game on Wednesday but did light training with his club-mates later that evening and is expected to start.

The selectors have made three changes from their Connacht final win. Jarlath Murray returns at right corner-back after suspension, instead of Paul Gately, while Damien Cunniffe is back from injury and is selected at midfield in place of Ollie Hennelly.

Anthony Keighrey is replaced in the left corner by Shane Hogan.

Their opponents, Loop from Derry, have delayed selection of their line-up, after being hit by a number of injuries, notably to midfielder John O'Kane their player of the year in 2003 who will be out of action for nine months after suffering a serious knee injury.

ST BRIGID'S: P. Keane; K. Keane, D. Cahill, M. Cahill; G. Norton, P. Andrews, M. Galvin; K. Darcy, J. Ward; D. Darcy, Rory Gallagher, D. Lally; K. Bonar, Raymond Gallagher, J. Noonan.

CALTRA: K. Kilroy; J. Murray, E. Meehan, B. Kilroy; D. Meehan, K. Gavin, O. Kelly; T. Meehan, D. Cunniffe; B. Laffey, J. Galvin, M. Killillea; A.N. Other, N. Meehan (capt.), S.Hogan.

AN GHAELTACHT: P. Healy; S. Sheehy, M. Ó Sé, D. Fitzgerald; R. Flaherty, T. Ó Sé, B. Breathnach; D. Ó Sé, P. Quinn; T. O'Connor, R. MacGearailt, A. MacGearailt; C. Crowley, D. Ó Cinnéide, C. O'Dowd.