Championship return for Canavan

Tyrone favourite Peter Canavan will make his first Championship start since helping the Red Hands to All-Ireland glory in 2003, against Cavan on Sunday (throw-in 3.30pm).

Having come on as a substitute in the first round win over Down, Canavan has impressed manager Mickey Harte sufficiently to line out at centre-half forward in this weekend's mouth-watering Ulster SFC semi-final showdown with Cavan.

Canavan replaces Ryan Mellon in the Tyrone line-up, with Martin Penrose shifting over to the left.

Harte's two other changes see Conor Gormley switching from defence to midfield to take the injured Collie Holmes' place, and Brendan Donnelly in at right-half forward.

Recently returned from a trip around Australia, Brian McGuigan, a 2003 All-star along with Canavan, is named on the substitutes bench.

In other Ulster football news, Armagh have finalised their side for tomorrow's Ulster SFC quarter-final replay against Donegal in Clones (throw-in 5.30pm).

Manager Joe Kernan has kept faith with the Orchard line-up that stole in from behind to draw 0-12 to 0-12 against Donegal in last weekend's drawn game.

Paddy McKeever, who was sent off for an off the ball incident last Sunday, is the only Armagh player unavailable for selection.

Meanwhile, Westmeath will have three newcomers in their side for tomorrow's All-Ireland qualifier clash with Tipperary in Thurles (throw-in 7.00pm).

Justin McAteer (right full-back), Donal O'Donoghue (full-back) and Paul Conway (centre-half forward) are the switches as Paidi O Se's side bid to curb former All-Star Declan Browne on his home turf.

TYRONE (SFC v Cavan): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Lawn, S Sweeney; D Harte, G Devlin, P Jordan; C Gormley, S Cavanagh; B Donnelly, P Canavan, M Penrose; O Mulligan, S O’Neill, E McGinley.

ARMAGH (SFC replay v Donegal): P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, P McCormack; A Kernan, K McGeeney (capt), C McKeever; J Toal, P McGrane; M O’Rourke, J McEntee, O McConville, S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon.

WESTMEATH (SFC v Tipperary): G Connaughton; J McAteer, D O’Donoghue, John Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, P Mulvihill; R O’Connell, D O’Shaughnessy; D Heavin, P Conway, F Wilson; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan.