Dubs reshuffle pack for Laois clash

DUBLIN have made a number of surprise changes on their team to play Laois in the first of the Bank of Ireland Leinster SFC championship semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday.

Brian Cullen, who operated in the half forward line in an unimpressive quarter-final performance against Longford, is selected at centre-back, with Paul Griffin moving from left half back to left corner back and Coman Goggins taking over the number seven shirt to the exclusion of Niall O’Shea, who had a disastrous championship debut.

Colin Keaney and Kieran Bonner now occupy the wing forward positions, with Alan Brogan in the centre. Ray Cosgrove returns at full-forward, with Jason Sherlock in the left corner.

Laois have made one change, former Kerry player Billy Sheehan replacing Gary Kavanagh, who has a bruised knee picked up in a Club Senior Championship game with Stradbally two weeks ago. Sheehan will start at left half forward.

Meanwhile, Down footballers Michael Walsh and John Clarke have refuted claims they were dropped ahead of last weekend’s All-Ireland qualifier against Sligo due to injuries.

An Ríocht player Clarke confirmed last night that he and Walsh were told one hour before the throw-in that they were not in the starting 15.

Clarke, who will play for his club in a league game against Burren on Friday, said he was “100% fit” for the game in which Down crashed out of the All-Ireland series with a dismal performance.

“I was told just before the game that I wasn’t playing but I wasn’t given a reason and I still don’t know why I was dropped. The word put out was that Michael Walsh and I were injured but that is not true,” said Clarke.

It is believed that Mayobridge man Walsh is angry at reports that he didn’t start because of injury.

The player may consider his future if O’Rourke wins the favour of the county board tonight and is given the green light to lead the Mournemen next season.

O’Rourke is expected to ask the county board for more time to turn around the fortunes of Down. But already there is speculation linking former manager Pete McGrath with a return to the inter-county scene.

Meanwhile Mickey Harte has lured Colm McCullagh back to the inter-county fold in a bid to ease Tyrone’s injury crisis.

The talented corner-forward announced his retirement last year and was contracted to play soccer with Newry this season. However, with the Irish League in close season and McCullagh out of contract, he has been persuaded to help out the Red Hands. Brian Dooher, Stephen O’Neill, Brian McGuigan and Ger Cavlan are all on the treatment table and McCullagh’s return gives Mickey Harte a new option against Louth in the All-Ireland qualifier.

Mayo expect to have a fully fit panel for Sunday’s Connacht semi-final clash with Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon. Vice captain Trevor Mortimer has returned to full training following a groin injury, while the other four regulars that didn’t start the easy preliminary round win over London are also pushing for inclusion.

David Brady returned from the recent trip to La Manga with an ankle strain, but the Ballina midfielder should be okay. Ronan McGarrity and Billy Joe Padden have also been performing well in training.

Leitrim are waiting on the fitness of Declan Maxwell and James Glancy.

Galway marksman Eugene Cloonan is awaiting the result of a scan on his injured thigh before he knows if he can play against Waterford on Saturday week. The Athenry clubman did not feature in Galway’s facile 7-18 to 2-13 win over Laois in the opening round of the Guinness All-Ireland qualifiers at the weekend.

lFormer Limerick hurling stars Gary Kirby and Richie Bennis, together with current U21 manager Tony Hickey, were last night proposed by the Limerick County Board to take responsibility for the senior hurling team, working alongside Liam Lenihan, who served with Joe McKenna as selector.

Kirby, a member of the Limerick All-Ireland final teams of 1996 and 1998, and Bennis, winner of an All-Ireland medal in 1973, are members of the Patrickswell club, while Hickey is attached to Murroe Boher.

In a local radio interview four weeks ago, Kirby said he had thought about putting his name forward as a future manager of the county team, but only when he felt the time was right. Bennis is a brother of Phil Bennis, who was manager of Limerick in 1992.

He suffered a serious illness some years ago but has been given the all clear by his doctors.

DUBLIN (SF v Laois): S. Cluxton; D. Henry, B. Cahill, P. Griffin; P. Casey, B. Cullen, C. Goggins; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; C. Keaney, A. Brogan, K. Bonner; T. Quinn, R. Cosgrove, J. Sherlock.

LAOIS (SF v Dublin): F. Byron; A. Fennelly, C. Ryan, P. McMahon; D. Rooney, T. Kelly, J. Higgins; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, C. Conway, B. Sheehan; D. Brennan, P. Lawlor, B. McDonald.