Armagh take no chances in bid to get title drive back on track

ALL-IRELAND football champions Armagh are taking no chances with Waterford in their qualifier by naming a near full-strength side for the long trip to Walsh Park on Sunday.

Allstar full-forward Ronan Clarke, half-forward Oisín McConville and centre-back Kieran McGeeney have all been named as the Orchard County endeavour to get their All-Ireland challenge back on track following their surprise exit from the Ulster championship.

Clarke missed much of the NFL with a groin injury, but came on as a sub in the Ulster SFC defeat to Monaghan two weeks ago.

McGeeney had been named at centre-back, but hamstring trouble forced him out at the 11th hour.

Pádraig Loughran, who came on for John Toal the last day to score two points, starts the game in midfield alongside Paul McGrane, while Oisín McConville, also a sub against Monaghan, gets a starting place at his customary left half forward position.

Mayo coach John Maughan has left a vacancy on the team to play Sligo in the second Connacht SFC semi-final on Sunday in the hope that Kenneth Mortimer passes a fitness test.

If he fails, the likelihood is that Aidan Higgins will drop back and Alan Roche will come in at right half back. Ray Conneally is also in contention for that position.

Sligo will await fitness reports on full back Neil Carew and team captain Eamonn O’Hara before finalising their team tonight.

Carey is troubled with a calf injury, while O’Hara has a groin strain. However, county secretary Tommy Kilcoyne said he was confident that both players will make it.

Despite breaking his nose in a recent club game, Mark Carpenter is available for Carlow in their qualifier with Wicklow in Dr Cullen Park.

However, coach Mick Condron is likely to be without Brian Farrell because of an ankle injury sustained in the recent Leinster clash with Westmeath.

Both Stephen O’Brien (hip) and John Hayden (shoulder) are winning their fitness battle and should be able to take their places in the half-back line.

Meanwhile, Wicklow have called a meeting of their county board executive for 9pm today to discuss the rearranging of their game with Carlow.

All-Ireland qualifiers in football had been fixed for Saturday, but the GAC moved the Wicklow/Carlow game to Sunday to accommodate Carlow, who are involved in an All-Ireland hurling qualifier with Kerry in Thurles on the Saturday.

Wicklow have pointed out to Croke Park that two of their players, Brendán Ó hAnnaidh and Clive Davis had

rearranged a flight to America for Sunday on the understanding that the game would be going ahead on Saturday evening.

Roscommon have been further hit by injury ahead of their Bank of Ireland, All-Ireland qualifier with Cork at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon on Saturday.

With Nigel Dineen already ruled out because of a broken bone in his ankle, Roscommon’s latest casualty is Brian Higgins, who sustained a hand injury in a club game over the weekend and will miss the Cork match.

John White, troubled by a hamstring injury, will undergo a fitness test tonight before the Roscommon team is finalised, while the Cork team will be named later today.

Cavan, shocked by Antrim in the Ulster championship, have axed goalkeeper Anthony Donoghue and corner forwards Micky Graham and Pat Galligan for their All-Ireland qualifier with Louth on Saturday.

John Reilly now takes over the goalkeeping position with Frank O’Reilly and Gary Preison receiving their call up papers in the Cavan attack. Manager Mattie Kerrigan has left the full forward position vacant.

Cavan, shocked by Antrim in the Ulster championship, have axed goalkeeper Anthony Donoghue and corner forwards Micky Graham and Pat Galligan for their All-Ireland qualifier with Louth on Saturday.

John Reilly now takes over the goalkeeping position with Frank O’Reilly and Gary Preison receiving their call-up papers in the Cavan attack. Manager Mattie Kerrigan has left the full-forward position vacant.

Louth have an injury doubt surrounding John Neary. He went into last Sunday’s game against Dublin with a hamstring problem and further aggravated the problem.

Wexford, who have the onerous task of taking on Derry in their All-Ireland qualifier have deferred selection of their team until tonight because of injury problems surrounding four of their key players. Rory Stafford (hamstring), Robert Hassey (ankle), Paddy Colfer (back) and Pat Carley (leg) are all on the treatment table at the moment.

Offaly beaten by Laois in the Leinster Bank Holiday Monday replay, will name their side to play London in their All-Ireland qualifier after training tonight, but doubts surround the availabilty of wing-back John Kenny and midfield player Finbarr Cullen. But Kenny (hamstring) and Cullen (groin) were forced off injured during the course of the Laois match.

CAVAN (SF v Louth): J. Reilly; C. Collins, T. Prior, J. Jordan; A. Forde, P. Reilly, M. McKeever; P. McKenna, D. McCabe; S. Brady, L. Reilly, P. Brady; F. O'Reilly, A. N. Other, G. Preison.

MAYO (SF v Sligo): P. Burke; AN Other, J. Nallan, G. Ruane; A. Higgins, G. Mullins, F. Costello; D. Heaney, J. Gill; T. Mortimer, D. Sweeney, A. Dillon; C. Mortimer, B. Maloney, S. Carolan.

ARMAGH (SF v Waterford): P Hearty; A Mallon, J McNulty, F Bellew: A O’Rourke, K McGeeney, A McCann; P Loughran, P McGrane; D Marsden, B O’Hagan, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, T McEntee.

MONAGHAN (SF v Down): G Murphy; AN Other; D Mc Kenna; P Mc Kenna; D Duffy (Capt); J Coyle; J Paul Mone; E Lennon; J Hughes; N Corrigan; T Freeman; P Finlay; M Slowey; R Ronaghan; D Freeman.