Guiney in for first game with Kingdom
The Listowel Emmet’s man has been named at right corner back on a team which shows several positional changes. Mick McCarthy has been handed the troublesome full back position, while Eamon Fitzmaurice is back in his customary centre-back spot.
Seamus Moynihan is an interesting choice at left half back.
Dingle’s Tommy Griffin will partner Darragh Ó Sé at midfield while Declan O’Sullivan will lead an attack that has former UCC star Paul Galvin (Finuge) on his right and Declan Quill at right corner forward.
Colm McCullagh’s reward for turning his back on a high-flying soccer career is a starting spot for Tyrone’s League opener against Dublin.
The former Omagh Town captain is the sole debutante on an experienced Red Hand side which begins the defence of its NFL title at Parnell Park.
The 26-year-old, who racked up 2-10 in three Dr McKenna Cup games since the turn of the year, gets his chance at right corner forward.
Nine of the team that started last September’s All-Ireland final are included, with five more on the bench, the only exception being Peter Canavan, who faces a five-month absence as he recovers from ankle surgery.
Canavan’s successor as captain, Cormac McAnallen, has not fully recovered from a knee injury and starts on the bench, with Conor Gormley filling the void at full back. Captaincy of the team for Sunday has been handed to Brian Dooher.
Having named almost his entire All-Ireland team winning team in his opening day squad, Harte is delighted at the strength in depth at his disposal.
“We’re probably in a stronger position than we were when we started the league last year, and I’m happy that we have that many to call on.”
New captain and Allstar full back McAnallen is likely to play some part in the game, having recovered sufficiently from a knee injury to be included among the subs.
“He’s coming on well and is happy enough with the progress he’s making, but he hasn’t had a chance to get any match practice yet, so to go straight in without a bit of match practice behind him maybe isn’t advisable.”
And Harte had no hesitation in handing rookie McCullagh a starting slot.
“He made a good step from club to McKenna Cup, and this is another step up.
“He made the first step seemingly seamlessly, and if he can do it again to the next level that would be great.”
Martin Delaney has been recalled to the Laois team for Sunday’s league clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.
A former All-Ireland winning captain, Delaney’s last game for the O’Moore County was at midfield against Kildare in the 1998 Leinster championship.
Following that defeat, he went to live in Chicago for the next six years, but returned to Ireland late last year. Injury has ruled Ross Munnelly out of Sunday’s game.
TYRONE (SF V Dublin): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Gormley, M McGee; C Holmes, G Devlin, C Gourley; K Hughes, S Cavanagh; M Coleman, B McGuigan, B Dooher; C McCullagh, O Mulligan, S Mulgrew. Subs: J Devine, D Carlin, G Cavlan, B Donnelly, M Harte, P Jordan, L Meenan, C McAnallen, E McGinley, J McMahon, S O'Neill, S Sweeney.
KERRY (SF v Longford): D. O’Keeffe; B. Guiney, M. McCarthy, T. O’Sullivan; T. Ó Sé, E. Fitzmaurice, S. Moynihan; D. Ó Sé, T. Griffin; P. Galvin (Finuge), D. O’Sullivan, E. Brosnan; D. Quill, D. Ó Cinnéide, M. F. Russell.
Subs: D. Murphy, M. Ó Sé, A. O’Mahony, R. O’Connor, S. Scanlon, W. Kirby, R. O’Connor (Kilcummin), J. Crowley, L. Hassett.
LAOIS (SF v Limerick): F. Byron; P. McDonald, C. Byrne, J. Higgins; D. Rooney, T. Kelly, K. Fitzpatrick; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; C. Parkinson, M. Delaney, C. Conway; B. Brennan, M. Lawlor, B. McDonald.
