Rossies call on Casey for Leitrim semi-final clash

ROSCOMMON boss Fergal O’Donnell has drafted David Casey into his side for Sunday afternoon’s Connacht SFC semi-final against Leitrim in Dr Hyde Park, in the only change from last month’s quarter-final win over London.

Casey comes into the starting 15 at left half-back in place of the injured Mark O’Carroll.

Galway captain Micheal Meehan will be fit for Sunday week’s Connacht semi-final against Sligo in Pearse Stadium, having recovered from the knee injury sustained in a league match at the Salthill venue against Kerry in March. Meehan missed the concluding stages of the league and the opening provincial round win over New York.

Tipp boss Liam Sheedy has increased his attacking options ahead of their All-Ireland SH qualifier against Wexford in Semple Stadium on July 3 by adding Pa Bourke and Ryan O’Dwyer to his panel. Bourke was one of six players dropped from Sheedy’s squad in April but good club form has earned the Thurles Sars hitman a recall.

O’Dwyer was involved with the Tipperary senior set-up but did not feature during the 2009 season, but has impressed in club action recently to be drafted back into the inter-county squad. O’Dwyer is set to continue featuring for the Tipperary senior footballers as they prepare for an All-Ireland qualifier tie against Meath or Laois on Saturday week.

Opponents Wexford will be without captain Diarmuid Lyng for the game after he failed in his appeal to the GAA Central Hearings Committee to overturn the four-week ban he received for his dismissal in their Leinster SHC quarter-final defeat against Galway.

Lyng was reported for “behaving in a way which is dangerous to an opponent” and the CHC decided that his case against the proposed ban was not strong enough to merit the suspension not being introduced.

Down footballer Ronan Sexton has opted not to contest the eight-week suspension he incurred after being sent off in a senior football challenge against Laois on May 16. Sexton was dismissed for “inflicting injury recklessly by striking with the hand” but after initially seeking a hearing to appeal, Sexton then informed the CHC he would not contest the proposed suspension.

ROSCOMMON (SF v Leitrim): G Clancy; S McDermott, P Domican, S Ormsby; S Purcell, C Dineen, D Casey; M Finneran, K Mannion; D Keenan, P Garvey, C Gregg; J Rogers, D Shine, G Heneghan.