Lacey back in the fold for champions

Footballer-of-the-year Karl Lacey returns to the Donegal side for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final with Mayo in Croke Park (4pm).

While Lacey was named to start in Donegal’s Ulster championship opener against Tyrone, he was used as a substitute in that game and missed the semi-final win over Down before returning to the starting 15 in the final loss to Monaghan.

He was named to start last week against Laois in the qualifiers but was replaced before throw-in by Declan Walsh, whose place he takes for the repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final. The All-Ireland champions’ assistant manager Rory Gallagher had refused to rule out Mark McHugh after he suffered a perforated eardrum, concussion and a quad muscle tear in the Ulster final, but he has not made a sufficient recovery to be considered for inclusion.

Donegal corner-forward Colm McFadden will equal Michael Hegarty’s record of 50 championship appearances should he start as expected.

Elsewhere, Cork have named an unchanged side for their quarter-final meeting with Dublin, which has a 7pm throw-in on Saturday night.

For last Saturday’s one-point win over Galway, Cork started the game with the side which had been selected for the first time in four championship games this year, and the same 15 players again compose the announced side.

Cork trailed by five points at one stage against the Tribesmen, and the introductions of Paul Kerrigan, Patrick Kelly, Donncha O’Connor, Paudie Kissane and Jamie O’Sullivan helped to turn the game in their favour but all five remain among the substitutes.

DONEGAL (SF v Mayo): P Durcan (Four Masters); P McGrath (Ardara), N McGee (Ghaoth Dobhair), E McGee (Ghaoth Dobhair); F McGlynn (Glenfin), K Lacey (Four Masters), A Thompson (Naomh Conaill); N Gallagher (Glenswilly), R Kavanagh (Naomh Adhamhnáin); R Bradley (Buncrana), R McHugh (Chíll Chartha), David Walsh (Naomh Bríd); P McBrearty (Chíll Chartha), M Murphy (Glenswilly), C McFadden (Naomh Micheál).

CORK (SF v Dublin): A Quirke (Valley Rovers); E Cadogan (Douglas), M Shields (St Finbarr’s), T Clancy (Clonakilty); D Cahalane (Castlehaven), G Canty (Bantry Blues), J Loughrey (Mallow); A O’Connor (St Colum’s), P O’Neill (Aghada); M Collins (Castlehaven), A Walsh (Kanturk), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); D Goulding (Éire Óg), C Sheehan (Éire Óg), B Hurley (Castlehaven). Subs: K O’Halloran (Bishopstown), J McLoughlin (Kanturk), T Clancy (Fermoy), N O’Leary (Cill na Martra), J O’Sullivan (Bishopstown), P Kissane (Clyda Rovers), A O’Sullivan (Castletownbere), F Goold (Macroom), P Kelly (Ballincollig), P Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), D O’Connor (Ballydesmond).