Dublin call on Sherlock for Laois showdown

DUBLIN and Laois have made one change in personnel for their Bank of Ireland Leinster SFC final showdown at Croke Park on Sunday.

Jason Sherlock returns to the Dublin team at right corner forward in place of Tomas Quinn, while Peter O’Leary is included in the Laois team at right half forward with Ross Munnelly moving to left corner forward to the exclusion of Donie Brennan.

With midfielder Paul Finlay ruled out with a viral infection Monaghan have made a number of positional switches for next Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC final clash with Tyrone at Clones.

JP Mone moves to midfield with Dick Clerkin taking over the right half forward position and Stephen Gollogly switching wings.

Team captain Damien Freeman, who started at left half forward in the semi-final win over Derry, is at left half forward.

While in a direct swap up front Smyth and Rory Woods change places with Smyth now on the forty and Woods at full forward.

Incidentally Woods’ uncle Eugene was full forward on the Monaghan team when they won their last Ulster championship title in 1988.

Steven O’Neill and Ger Cavlin are doubtful starters for Tyrone because of hamstring problems but Nial Gormley, who sustained a broken jaw in a club game a number of weeks ago, is back in contention for a starting place.

Cork are waiting on fitness reports concerning corner backs Brian Murphy and Shane O’Neill, as well as midfielder Tom Kenny, before selecting their side to play Tipperary in the All-Ireland SHC qualifier at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday night.

O’Neill missed last night’s exciting Under 21 win over Tipp at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, while Niall McCarthy has been ruled out of Saturday night’s encounter because of the injury he sustained in the Munster semi final against Waterford.

Tipperary, with Paul Curran definitely out with a broken jaw and Eoin Kelly a possible non-starter because of a groin strain, have also delayed naming their side. But Micheal Webster is back training, while Paul Kelly, who has yet to play in the qualifiers because of the quad-muscle injury he picked up in the League, could be in line for a starting position.

Gerry Quinn misses Clare’s game against Laois in the final qualifying game at Portlaoise on Sunday. Quinn will be out for six weeks after damaging knee ligaments.

Offaly, who play Dublin in their last qualifying game at Tullamore on Saturday, will be without eight of their Under 21 players Conor Hernon, Paul Cleary, David Kenny, Joe Bergin, Derek Mullins and Shane Dooley because of their involvement in the Leinster Under 21 final the following week.

Saturday’s All-Ireland second round qualifier clash between Westmeath and Donegal at Cusack Park, Mullingar, has been brought forward by two hours with the new throw-in time now 5pm.

All the other ties remain at the originally fixed times with Derry and Mayo locking horns at 3.30 at Celtic Park, Meath and Fermanagh meeting in Navan at 7pm and Kildare welcoming Louth to Newbridge at 7pm.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Tyrone): G. Duffy; D. Mone, V. Corey, D, Mc Ardle; D. Morgan, G. Mc Quaid, D. Freeman (Capt); E. Lennon,

J. P. Mone; D. Clerkin, S. Smyth; S. Gollogly; C. Hanratty, R. Woods, T. Freeman.

DUBLIN (SFC v Laois): S. Cluxton; D. Henry, R. McConnell, P. Griffin; P. Casey, B. Cullen, B. Cahill; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; C. Moran, A. Brogan, B. Brogan; J. Sherlock, C. Keaney, M. Vaughan.

LAOIS (SFC v Dublin): F. Byron; C. Ryan, T. Kelly, J. Higgins; P. McMahon, D. Rooney, B. McCormack; P. Clancy, B. Quigley; P. O’Leary, C. Conway, C. Parkinson; M. Tierney, P. Lawlor, R. Munnelly.