Armagh delight as star Marsden returns

DIARMUID MARSDEN is set for a sensational return to inter-county football.

Marsden, who celebrates his 32nd birthday next week, quit the top flight game two years ago, claiming he could no longer give the required commitment to the Orchard County.

Marsden made his senior inter-county debut in 1993, playing a crucial role in the county’s resurgence through the 90s and their historic All-Ireland title victory in 2002. Marsden is currently employed as Ulster GAA Regional Development Officer.

Armagh manager Joe Kernan last night confirmed the return of the Clan na Gael man.

“I’ve talking to him on and off over the last couple of weeks. Naturally we were disappointed he went when he did but we fully understood his decision. But we all felt he had some unfinished business. And it is great that he will be back in full training next week.”

The GAA has moved to counter claims they are not doing enough to promote the Allianz national leagues by launching a media campaign — entitled “Unrivalled” — which will run during the hurling and football competitions.

Media conferences will be held to promote high-profile fixtures, the first being the Round Two NHL meeting of Waterford and Cork in Walsh Park on March 4.

Only last week, a number of hurling managers criticised the Association’s failure to launch the NHL in the same manner as the football tournament when Dublin and Tyrone attracted 82,000 people to Croke Park under lights.

Waterford’s Eoin Kelly and Cork’s Ronan Curran have been chosen to accompany GAA President Nickey Brennan to the conference next Monday in Waterford where the players will be available for TV, radio and press interviews.

Meanwhile Setanta Ó hAilpín is on the verge of nailing down a permanent place in Carlton’s first team squad for the coming AFL season.

Both Setanta and younger brother Aisake are believed to be in excellent form at pre-season training in Melbourne and the former Young Hurler of the Year is being tipped to take a key defensive position, possibly full-back.

The Cork man made a huge impression in one training match earlier this month in his shepherding of Brendan Fevola, the AFL’s top scoring forward last year.

Carlton’s age-old city rivals, Collingwood, are also beginning to see their Irish punt pay off after former Down minor Martin Clarke made a major impression in his first ever AFL game against Sydney last Friday night.

“Not too many boys playing AFL for an AFL club had their first game after 19-odd years, but it was brilliant,” said Clarke. “I’ve had a real good pre-season, went to Arizona and that, so I was really looking forward to getting out there and playing a game with my teammates.”

The 19-year old has amazed club coaches with the speed with which he has adapted to a game he had never played before his arrival in Melbourne last August and he admitted to feeling very “comfortable” in his first run-out last week at the North Sydney Oval.

“It was pretty frenetic. It was fast paced, there was a lot happening. The senior players were good on the ground, talking to me, telling me who to pick up and I just went out and played, worked as hard as I could and I definitely enjoyed it. It’s a great sport, it was good to finally get out there, and hopefully I can get out there more often.”

Dublin have made two changes and one positional switch following their victory over Limerick for Sunday’s NFL 1A showdown with Donegal at Ballyshannon.

Barry Cahill and Tomas Quinn are called up by Pillar Caffrey while the versatile Alan Brogan moves from centre forward to the left corner of attack.

Cahill takes over the right-half back position from Paul Casey, while Quinn who is preferred at centre forward to Diarmuid Connolly.

Although they lost to the Dubs a fortnight ago, Limerick have named an unchanged side for their league clash with Mayo at Castlebar on Sunday.

Cork are expected to be without Graham Canty, John Hayes, Fintan Goold, Pearse O’Neill and Alan Cronin for the visit of Tyrone on Saturday night.

However, Kevin McMahon, who missed the two opening games in the league against Donegal and Kerry because of a shoulder injury, could make his return.

Enda Coughlan and Michael O’Shea are doubtful starters for Clare, who take on Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park.

Meanwhile full back Paul Curran has been confirmed as vice-captain of the Tipperary senior hurling team for 2007.

The Mullinahone clubman will skipper the side in the unlikely event of no representative from county champions Toomevara making the Tipperary team for the remainder of the league and Championship.

DUBLIN (SF v Donegal): S. Cluxton; D. Henry, N. O’Shea, P. Griffen; B. Cahilly, B. Cullen, G. Brennan; D. Magee, R. McConnell; C. Keaney, T. Quinn, D. Murray, D. O’Callaghan, K. Bonner, A. Brogan.

LIMERICK (SF v Mayo): S. Kiely; S. Gallagher, J. McCarthy, P. Browne; P. Ahern, T. Cahill, P. Ranaghan; J. Galvin, T. Carroll; G. Noonan, J. Ryan, J. Cooke; J. O’Brien, D. Horan, M. Reidy.