TYRONE have made a number of injury-enforced changes to the team that lost last September's All-Ireland final to Dublin, for Sunday's Ulster first-round tie against Fermanagh at Omagh.
Unavailable because of injury are: Fergal Logan, Ciaran Loughran, Ciaran Corr and Stephen Lawn. Centre back Seamus McCallan, who was ruled out because of a hand injury, earlier in the week, is surprisingly included, but will undergo a fitness test on Saturday.
Into the team come two championship debutants - Brian Dooher, a member of UCD's Sigerson-winning panel, and Damien Gormley, brother of midfielder Jody.
Pascal Canavan moves to midfield to replace Logan and his former role of centre forward is given to Gerard Cavlan. At If wing forward, Adrian Cush starts his first championship match since last year's Ulster semi-final against Derry.
Meanwhile, Fermanagh, introduce three new faces at this level in their selection. Left corner back Neil Cox, midfielder Liam Mc Barron and right wing forward Ciaran Donnelly all make their debuts at Omagh.
Manager Terry Ferguson is missing seven of the team that ran Tyrone close in last year's championship and the average age of the named 15 is around 22.
"There's a confidence problem in the county," says Ferguson. "There are a lot of good footballers, but no confidence. Last year we started well and were a point up at half-time, but Paul Brewster was injured six minutes into the second half. Once he went off they waltzed through the middle. They were seven points up but we came back and kept plugging away and that was encouraging. We're hoping that Tyrone will be more worried about Derry than us. All the pressure is on them.
Louth will not name a team for Sunday's Leinster first round against Offaly until tonight.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the Munster Council are ready to bring forward, by 24 hours, two major games scheduled for this month.
Council chairman Noel Walsh confirmed that it was now almost certain that, the hurling championship, semi-final, between Kerry and Tipperary fixed for Tralee will be played on Saturday, June 15th.
For a different reason the senior football championship semi-final between Waterford and Kerry scheduled for Dungarvan on Sunday, June 23rd, is also likely to come forward by 24 hours to facilitate the Waterford County Board, who are involved in the preparations for the annual Feile na Gael, being held in Waterford that weekend.
The Dublin county board will be selling tickets today for Sunday's match with Westmeath in Navan. They will be on sale at the county board offices in Parnell Park, between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm.
The death yesterday, of Portarlington fire victim, Colm Maher (27), has led to the postponement of this evening's scheduled fund-raising senior intercounty football game between Laois and Carlow.
Colm, was a prominnt Portarlington and Laois Senior County footballer. The Laois Carlow fixture was organised prior to Sunday's fire tragedy in Portarlington.
The match has now been rearranged for this coming Saturday evening at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, (7.30 pm). The proceeds will go to the Maher family fire fund and also to the third world aid agency, GOAL.
Hackett's the bookmakers have installed Dublin and Derry as joint favourites for this year's All Ireland football title. The prices are: Dublin, 7/2; Derry, 5/1 Cork, Kerry, 7/1 Down, 8/1 Meath, Tyrone, 12/1 Mayo, Galway 16/1; Leitrim, 40/1
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