Lockhart comes into Derry team for Diamond

UTILITY player John Martin Lockhart has been given the right half-back berth on the Derry team for Sunday's Ulster senior football championship semi-final against Ulster champions Tyrone in Clones. has been given the nod ahead of Karl Diamond by Derry manager Brian Mullins in the only change from the side that started Derry's last game, the quarter-final replay against Monaghan.

Lockhart, who played well as a wing forward last year, replaced Diamond against Monaghan and did well enough to earn retention.

Wing back Johnny McBride, who had been doubtful due to a virus, will play, and Fergal McCusker has fully recovered from a hamstring strain, and will line out at left half-forward.

Mullins has not yet named his substitutes. Certain to be among them is Brian McCormack, sent off in the drawn match against Monaghan, but eligible again from midnight on Saturday.

Brian Dooher is set to be given a championship starting place in the Tyrone team for the first time this season. But manager Danny Ball has deferred naming his team until this evening.

Full back Paul O'Neill was replaced at half-time against Armagh in Omagh last Sunday week. A reshuffle is likely to see Chris Lawn move to full back. Lawn was dismissed in the Armagh game, but received a two-week ban which expires on Saturday at midnight.

Kerry manager Paidi O Se gives John Brennan of Desmonds an overdue championship debut, at right corner-forward, for Sunday's Munster football semi-final clash with Tipperary in Tralee. Mid-fielder William Kirby and left half-forward Denis O'Dwyer will also be making their championship debuts.

Brian Clarke drops back to a bench that provides manager O Se with some excellent options, both in defence and attack. included are Morgan O'Shea, Billy O'Shea and Sean Burke. Will-o'-the-wisp attacker Gene Farrell has been ruled out because of injury.

Louth have deferred naming their side until this evening for Sunday's Leinster football championship semi-final clash with Offaly. There is a doubt about the composition of their defence following the news that centre back John Donaldson is doubtful.

Meanwhile, Donegal midfielder Brian Murray yesterday denied rumours that he had quit intercounty football in the wake of Sunday's defeat for the county against Cavan in the Ulster senior football championship.

"I have made no decision as yet and I am not going to decide on something that I would be sorry for later on. There may be a new set-up in Donegal for the new season and I may want to be a part of that," Murray said.

Now that Donegal are out of the reckoning, Murray's nomination to win the Ulster title is Derry.

"They are a much more focused team now than they have been for some time. They are hungrier," he says.

But, following his experience in Clones last Sunday, he gives Cavan "a lot better than good chance of beating either Derry or Tyrone."

"Ronan Carolan is playing better now than I have ever seen him. He was brilliant last Sunday. And young Dermot McCabe is a mid-fielder of class. The way they finished against us when they got going in the second half entitles them to be respected."