Moynihan and Kirby on bench for Kerry

SEAMUS MOYNIHAN and William Kirby are omitted from the Kerry team for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

Moynihan, who did not start against Tipperary in the Kingdom’s opening title defence due to a leg injury, is again named in the subs with Eamon Fitzmaurice at centre-back.

Ballylongford’s Paddy Kelly, who started last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final win over Dublin, replaces Kirby at midfield where he will partner Darragh Ó Sé.

Declan O’Sullivan captains the team from full forward, with Colm Cooper and Mike Frank Russell in the corners.

Jason Sherlock has been left out of the Dublin team for their Leinster SFC semi-final clash with Wexford on Sunday and is replaced at right corner forward by Mark Vaughan.

This will mark the Kilmacud Croke’s promising young stars first senior championship start, having previously been sprung from the bench for the Dubs last two games.

Wexford ace Mattie Forde is battling the flu ahead of the eagerly awaited game. Forde was his sides leading scorer with 1-7 in their 5-21 to 1-13 mauling at the hands of Kerry in the challenge on Sunday.

Wexford will not know until this evening if team captain John Hudson will be able to take his place. The full-forward missed out on the Carlow victory with a calf muscle strain. While he has done some light jogging over the past number of days he faces a stern fitness test before the side is announced after training tonight.

Dual star Redmond Barry came through the hurlers victory over Laois unscathed and is available for selection.

Laois have made three changes in attack for their semi-final with Kildare also at Croke Park on Sunday.

From the side that beat Offaly in the quarter final Barry Brennan takes over at centre half forward from Ian Fitzgerald. Billy Sheehan is preferred to Garry Kavanagh on the left flank of attack, while Chris Conway moves to right corner forward with Brian McDonald returning at left corner forward instead of Donie Brennan.

Offaly have made two changes from the side that lost to Laois for Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier with Carlow at Dr. Cullen Park.

Right half back and captain Barry Mooney misses out because of a hamstring injury and his replaced by Tullamore’s James Keane.

The other change sees left corner forward James Coughlan make way for the experienced John Reynolds.

Carlow manager Liam Hayes is awaiting a fitness test on full-back Brian Farrell before announcing his side. Farrell suffered a shoulder injury in their loss to Wexford, while midfielder Patrick Walsh is expected to be fully recovered from an ankle sprain, which he has rested since the quarter-final.

Brian Dooher and Brian Meenan have been ruled out of Tyrone’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Cavan.

Dooher (ankle) and Meenan (calf) will join Colin Holmes on the sidelines while Colm McCullagh is doubtful because of a rib injury.

Brian McGuigan, just back from Australia, is unlikely to line out.

Anthony Forde is likely to be available for Cavan while Michael Lyng and Seanie Johnston could return.

Forde has recovered from the virus which caused him to miss the two games against Antrim. Lyng (hamstring) and Johnston (groin) were also ruled out of the tie against the Saffrons but both are making good progress.

One of the big talking points ahead of the match is whether Peter Canavan will start for Tyrone. Canavan made a huge impression when he came on as a sub against Down but the indications are that he again may start the game from the bench.

KERRY (SFC v Limerick): D Murphy; A O’Mahony, M McCarthy, T O’Sullivan; T Ó Sé, E Fitzmaurice, M Ó Sé; D Ó Sé, P Kelly; P Galvin, E Brosnan, L Hassett, C Cooper, D O’Sullivan (Capt.), MF Russell. Subs: K Cremin, W Kirby, D Ó Cinnéide, S Moynihan, D Quill, B Guiney, B Sheehan, R O’Connor, M Lyons, K Donaghy, M Quirke, N Kennelly

OFFALY (SFC v Carlow): P Kelly; C Daly, C Evans, S Brady; J Keane, S Sullivan, K Slattery (Capt); C McManus, A McNamee; C Quinn, M Daly, N Coughlan; N McNamee, P Kellaghan, J Reynolds.

DUBLIN (SFC v Wexford): S. Cluxton; P. Griffen, P. Christie, S. O’Shaughnessy; P. Casey B. Cahill, C. Coggins; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; C. Moran. A. Brogan, B. Cullen; M. Vaughan, C. Keaney, T. Quinn.

LAOIS (SFC v Kildare): F. Byron; A. Fennelly, D. Rooney, J. Higgins; C. Begley, T. Kelly, P. McMahon; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, B. Brennan, B. Sheehan; C. Conway, I. Fitzpatrick, B. McDonald.