McGarrity, Padden return for Mayo

MAYO have made two changes from the side that defeated New York for Sunday’s Bank of Ireland, Connacht SFC semi-final clash with Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Ronan McGarrity is re-introduced at midfield, with David Heaney moving to right half back to the exclusion of Pat Kelly. BJ Padden returns at right half forward, with Austin O’Malley dropping down to the substitutes bench.

Meanwhile, Colm McCullagh goes straight into the Tyrone team for tomorrow’s qualifier replay against Louth, just days after returning to the squad.

McCullagh was called up this week to add a new attacking option to an injury-ravaged squad, and Mickey Harte has included the Irish league soccer star at left corner forward.

Harte has made four other changes, with John Devine preferred in goal to Pascal McConnell, and Raymond Mulgrew and Enda McGinley drafted into the attack. McGinley makes his first start since last year’s All-Ireland final, coming in at wing forward for Peter Donnelly.

The other two attackers, who played in the drawn game but won’t feature at Healy Park, are the injured Stephen O’Neill and Gerard Cavlan. However, there is a settled look about the remainder of the team, with the defence and midfield unchanged.

Cavlan and Joe McMahon could play some part in the game, but injury has ruled skipper Brian Dooher out, and he doesn’t make the bench.

Defenders Glen Ryan, Padraig Mullarkey and David Lyons have been ruled out of the Kildare team to meet Cavan in their All-Ireland qualifier at Newbridge, tomorrow night, because of injury. However, full back Kevin O’Neill and left half back Anthony Rainbow have been passed fit to play.

Meanwhile, Donegal forward Michael Doherty is rated doubtful for the July 9 Ulster football final.

Doherty sustained facial and leg injuries in last Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Ulster football semi-final win over Derry. The player underwent a scan on his knee in Letterkenny General Hospital yesterday but is set to undergo a second scan in Dublin next week to assess the extent of the knee damage.

Donegal manager, Brian McIver is keeping his fingers crossed that his top-scoring forward against Derry might be available for the provincial decider.

Sligo defender Michael Langan has left the county senior squad, becoming the fourth player in two weeks to opt out. Jonathan Davey and Brian Curran are spending the summer in the US while Dessie Sloyan has withdrawn due to injury.

Better news for the Yeatsmen is the return of Drumcliffe/Rosses Point club man Philip Gallagher who has re-joined the squad following a spell with Sligo Rovers.

Monaghan have made a number of changes from the team which defeated Warwickshire for their Nicky Rackard Cup tie with Derry in Clontibret tomorrow. David Connolly returns to full back with Jim McHugh moving to centre in place of Padraig Dowdall.

Alan Lambe loses his place at midfield to Paul Meegan while Arthur Hughes takes over from Declan Crowe in the half back line.

Up front Bernard O’Brien replaces Robbie Healy in the half forward line while Stephen Lambe is preferred to Gerard Gilsenan at full-forward.

MAYO (SF V Leitrim): J. Healy; D. Geraghty, L. O’Malley, P. Higgins; D. Deaney, J. Nallon, P. Gardiner; R. McGarrity, P. Harte; B. J. Padden, G. Brady, A. Dillon; K. McDonald, C. Mortimer, A. Moran.

TYRONE (SF v Louth): J Devine; P McConnell, R McMenamin, C McGinley, M McGee, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, C Holmes, S Cavanagh, R Mellon, R Mulgrew, E McGinley, M Penrose, O Mulligan, C McCullagh.

LOUTH (SFC v Tyrone): S. Reynolds; D. Brennan, C. Goss, J. Carr; J. O’Brien, P. McGinnity, J. Neary; M. Farrelly (Capt), P. Keenan; C. Grimes, M. Brennan, R. Finnegan; JP Rooney, M. Stanfield, D Clarke.

CAVAN (SF v Kildare): J. Reilly; M. Hannon, P. O’Neill, K. Fannon; M. Cahill, A. Forde, C. Collins; D. McCabe, L. Mulvey; M. McKenna, J. Brady, M. Butler; L. O’Neill, P. O’Reilly, S. Johnston.

KILDARE (SF v Cavan): E. Murphy; A. McLoughlin, K. O’Neill, M. Hogarty; M. Foley, J. Divelly, A. Rainbow; K. Brennan, D. Earley; J. Doyle, J. Kavanagh, R. Sweeney; T. Archibald, T. O’Connor, P. O’Neill.

MONAGHAN (SH v Derry): M McHugh; P Murphy, D Connolly, S Loftus; E Greenan, J McHugh, A Hughes; P Meegan, B Connolly; R Meegan, B O’Brien, N Meaney; B McGuigan, S Lambe, N Morgan.

DERRY (SH v Monaghan): K. Stevenson; S. McCulla, M. Conway, A. Rafferty; P. Sweeney, L. Hinphey, R. McCloskey; P. O’Kane, G. Biggs; M. Craig, R. Convery; D. McGrellis; S. McBride, K. Hinpey, J. O’Dwyer.