Boost for Tyrone as rover McGuigan returns

BRIAN McGUIGAN will be back for Tyrone’s Ulster SFC clash with either Cavan or Antrim. McGuigan is due home on June 9 from Australia, 10 days ahead of the Clones clash.

McGuigan missed the entire National League after deciding to take some time out to visit Australia and there were fears that he would not feature at all this season. But he has confirmed to manager Mickey Harte that he will be back next month, and will go straight into the squad.

The Red Hands also expect to have skipper Brian Dooher back from injury for the next clash, while Peter Canavan is expected to start following the success of his substitute appearance at Omagh last weekend.

Harte is slowly getting his strongest team back together, but it is unlikely that Kevin Hughes, also in Australia, will play any part in the campaign, while Ger Cavlan remains absent, having opted out of the squad at the start of the season.

Stylish wing-forward Denis Russell has turned down an offer from the Clare football management to return and will take no part in Sunday’s opening game in the Bank of Ireland Munster SFC against Waterford at Cusack Park.

Russell, together with squad members Brendan Crowley and Mark O’Connell, was reprimanded following a breach of discipline during the League and opted out of the panel.

However, the Clare management held out an olive branch to the three players. Crowley and O’Connell accepted the invitation to return but Russell, a member of the Kilkee club, regarded as one of the top forwards in the county, decided against returning.

Apart from Russell, the Banner will also be without full-back Conor Whelan, midfielder Timmy Ryan, Ronan Slattery and Brian Considine for Sunday’s opener.

However, Odran O’Dwyer has recovered from a groin injury and is almost certain to be included.

Westmeath will be without two of last season’s championship-winning team - midfielder Gary Dolan and centre-forward Paul Conway - as they open the defence of their Leinster title against Kildare at Croke Park on Sunday.

Dolan, with ankle and knee injuries, and Conway, sidelined with a shoulder injury, missed the League campaign and are still out of contention.

Kildare are awaiting fitness reports on Carl Ennis and Andrew McLoughlin. Both missed the previous round when the Lilywhites were put to the pin of their collars to stave off a tremendous challenge from Wicklow.

Roscommon, who travel to Ruislip to take on London in the first round of the Connacht championship, expect to have captain David Casey, Seamus O’Neill and Stephen Lohan back.

All three, Casey because of cartilage trouble, O’Neill with an ankle complaint and Lohan because of a broken bone in his foot, missed a major portion of the League.

Ruled out of the Roscommon side, however, are Frankie Dolan with a broken finger, and Paul Noone, who is carrying an ankle injury.

Declan Quill will be available for Kerry as boss Jack O’Connor sits down to name his team to play Tipperary at Semple Stadium on Sunday, after recovering from a leg injury.

Laois introduce one newcomer to senior championship football in the person of Colm Begley. The Stradbally clubman has been selected at right half-back.

LAOIS (SFC v Offaly): F. Byron; A. Fennelly, D. Rooney, J. Higgins; C. Begley, T. Kelly, P. McMahon; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, I. Fitzgerald, G. Kavanagh; D. Brennan, K. Fitzpatrick, C. Conway.

OFFALY (SFC v Laois): P. Kelly; C. Daly, C. Evans; S. Buckley; B. Mooney, S. Sullivan; K. Slattery; C. McManus, A. McNamee; C. Quinn, M. Daly, N. Coughlan; J. Coughlan, P. Kellaghan, N. McNamee.