Sheehan wins his case for defence

JOHN SHEEHAN has kept his place in the Kerry defence for Sunday’s Bank of Ireland football championship semi-final against Tyrone in Croke Park.

The Laune Rangers man is named at left half-back in place of Marc Ó Sé, whom he replaced after 25 minutes in the quarter-final against Roscommon three weeks ago. Otherwise the team is the same as it started in that game

. The selection is more or less as was generally expected. Marc Ó Se didn't settle the last day against Gary Cox who was to emerge as Roscommon's best forward, but it's probable that Sheehan was picked on the basis of form in training in the interim period.

Eoin Brosnan is again named at midfield, alongside Darragh Ó Sé, who missed the Munster final because of an ankle injury. There had been speculation Brosnan might lose out to Seamus Scanlon, who is said to have excelled with the Under-21 team last week, but taking account of his potential and greater experience that was considered unlikely.

Riobard MacGearailt a brother of Aodhan's and Tommy Griffin, have both been added to the panel. Darragh Ó Sé didn't take part in last evening's training session in Fitzgerald Stadium, but it was explained he was just resting, having made a full return to fitness in the last few weeks.

Clearly, the team management was unhappy with aspects of the second-half display in the All-Ireland quarter-final. There were expectations in some quarters that Seamus Moynihan might be moved out to the half-back line, but this hasn't happened. The official view is it was a shared weakness, linked to a certain amount of complacency, which led to Roscommon getting two goals in a 10-minute period in the second half.

County Board Chairman Sean Walsh last night praised the panel of players for putting in a special effort since the quarter-final. "Leaving Croke Park after the Roscommon game there was a realisation we probably hadn't performed to the best of our ability. To that effect, the team went back into training the following evening and they have made a massive effort since then to make sure everything will be in readiness.

"Obviously, we're expecting a big challenge from Tyrone. If you were to look at form throughout the year, they were the one team that stood out as All-Ireland contenders. While most people would look up front and marvel at their forwards, I believe their strength lies in their backs. We played them in the League in Killarney and they were very strong, very tight and very fast.

"I know it was only League football but it was a pointer."

Meanwhile, Gavin Devlin goes straight back into the Tyrone team after completing a 12-week ban with teenage corner back Dermot Carlin the player to lose out, and Ciaran Gourley making way for Devlin, switching from centre back to right full.

Devlin is one of three top-class defenders available again to manager Mickey Harte but he has opted to stick with Cormac McAnallen at full back. Fit-again Colin Holmes and Chris Lawn are held in reserve.

While the inclusion of Devlin, whose last game for Tyrone was the May 18 Ulster SFC opener against Derry, may be a surprise, he has managed to stay match-sharp by playing for his club Ardboe.

Kevin Hughes continues his successful midfield partnership with Sean Cavanagh. Up front, Enda McGinley has been named in the front line of attack along with Peter Canavan and Owen Mulligan, but is likely to adopt a deeper role, leaving the feared duo space to operate as a two-man inside line.

Harte sat down last night to pick from a full squad for the first time this season but is aware even his strongest possible line-up will be stretched to the limit by a classy Kingdom outfit.

"I saw the very best of Kerry at Croke Park when they played Roscommon. I suppose they took their foot off the pedal and Roscommon came back into it. But they were pretty awesome, their movement off the ball was excellent, their passing, their support play and their finishing was sublime at times.

"It was Kerry at their best and that's my lasting memory of their quarter-final.

"It's not something you come across very often, to have players of the high calibre they have, playing at the pace they play at, and having the finishing capabilities they have."

KERRY: D O'Keeffe; T O'Sullivan, S Moynihan, M McCarthy (captain); T Ó Sé, E Fitzmaurice, J Sheehan; D O Se, E Brosnan; S O'Sullivan, D O Cinneide, L Hassett, MF Russell, D O'Sullivan, C Cooper. Subs: D Murphy, S Scanlon, M O Se, J Crowley, MacGearailt, D Quill, M Quirke, P Galvin, A O'Mahony, J Cahalane, P Kennedy, D Daly, T Brennan, R MacGearilt, T Griffin.

TYRONE: J Devine, C Gourley, C McAnallen, R McMenamin, C Gormley, G Devlin, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh, B Dooher, B McGuigan, G Cavlan, E McGinley, P

Canavan, O Mulligan.