Con O’Callaghan gets nod for Dubs' Leinster semi-final

Dublin take on Louth on Saturday evening.

FIT AGAIN: Wicklow's Conall Ó Gallchobhair and Con O’Callaghan of Dublin. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Dublin captain Con O’Callaghan has been included in the Dublin team to face Louth in Saturday evening’s Leinster SFC semi-final despite pulling up and being replaced at half-time in the quarter-final win over Wicklow.

O’Callaghan has been bothered by a long-standing hamstring issue but has been named at least in the team along with the returning Ciarán Kilkenny, while Theo Clancy (ankle) and Luke Breathnach (shoulder) are among the substitutes.

Kilkenny and Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne are the two changes from the team that won in Aughrim last Sunday week. Out go Greg McEneaney and Páidí White who are not among the matchday 26.

Meanwhile, Antrim hurlers are expected to return to training on Friday night having met with county chairman Seamus McMullan on Wednesday.

The squad chose not to complete a session on Tuesday after county officials did not meet with them to discuss claims there was an attempt by executive members to oust Davy Fitzgerald as manager. They also had some playing gear entitlement concerns to discuss.

Elsewhere, Paul Faloon will take charge of Sunday week’s Munster SFC final between Kerry and Cork in Fitzgerald Stadium. The Down man took charge of last year’s Donegal-Meath All-Ireland semi-final.

That same afternoon, two-time All-Ireland SFC final referee Seán Hurson will be the man in the middle for the Roscommon-Galway Connacht decider in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.

In hurling, Waterford’s Thomas Walsh has recovered from injury and will be available for championship fixtures from the middle of next month. Liam Gordon remains sidelined with injury but could return to action before the end of the championship.

Seán Stack has been appointed to the Waterford-Cork Munster SHC Round 3 game in Azzurri Walsh Park on Saturday week. Johnny Murphy oversees the Offaly-Kilkenny Leinster SHC Round 3 game in Tullamore on Sunday week, his second successive Kilkenny fixture. Shane Hynes officiates the Wexford-Dublin clash on Saturday week.

DUBLIN (SFC v Louth): E. Comerford; E. Murchan, N. Doran, D. Byrne; T. Lahiff, C. McMorrow, E. Kennedy; P. Ó Cofaigh-Byrne, B. Howard; S. Bugler, N. Scully, C. Kilkenny; P. Small, K. McGinnis, C. O’Callaghan (c). Subs: H. O’Sullivan, S. MacMahon, E. O’Callaghan, C. O’Connor, C. Murphy, S. Golden, E. Dunne, T. Clancy, N. O’Callaghan, L. Breathnach, C. Costello.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Derry): R. Beggan; D. McElearney, R. O’Toole, D. Byrne; C. Dowd, D. Ward, A. Carey; M. McCarville, L. Kelly; K. Gallagher, M. Bannigan (c), S. O’Hanlon; D. Garland, A. Woods, S. Mooney. Subs: K. Mulligan, T. Hughes, R. Hanratty, R. McCaul, R. Mohan, C. McCarthy, R. Duffy, K. Lavelle, O. McGorman, J. McCarron, S. Hanratty.