CONNACHT CHAMPIONS Mayo have made only one change to the side that ended a 46-year jinx in beating Galway in last month's championship encounter in Tuam.
Kieran McDonald who came on a substitute that afternoon retains his place with P J Loftus, who scored Mayo's early goal, dropping back to the bench.
James Nallen has recovered from a bout of the flu and will be fit to take his customary place at centre back on the team to play Leitrim in Sunday's provincial semi-final in Castlebar.
There will be some surprise that one of the current Players' All Stars, Pat Holmes, continues to be omitted as he had a steadying impact on Galway's John Donnellan when introduced as a substitute in Tuam.
Mayo make one positional change. Liam McHale, who played at centre forward against Galway, returns to his customary midfield slot with Colm McManamon switching to centre-forward.
Opponents Leitrim make two changes and recall veteran Mickey Quinn to the side. The county's first All Star in 1990, Quinn is selected at left wing forward in place of Jimmy Guckian. Left corner back Fergal Reynolds is injured and Kieran Murray drops back to the corner with Quinn's Aughawillan club mate Gerry Flanagan coming in at left wing back.
Meanwhile, Tyrone and Derry delay naming their teams for Sunday's big match in Clones where the counties meet for the third successive year in the Ulster semi-final. Announcements are expected tomorrow.
Offaly have made two changes for their Leinster semi-final with Louth in Navan. James Brady has been replaced at left corner back by Barry Malone, brother of the team's full forward Roy, and Mark Daly comes in at right wing forward for Colm Quinn.
Louth have delayed naming their side until tomorrow as there is an injury doubt surrounding John Donaldson.
Meanwhile in Tipperary, dual inter-county player Brendan Cummins has been left on the bench for Sunday's Munster football semi-final against Kerry in Tralee.
Cummins, also goalkeeper for the county hurlers who contest the Munster final against Clare on Sunday week, has been a key attacker for the team in the championship, racking up 1-2 and 0-8 in his match and a half to date.
He sustained an injury in a club match at the weekend but was reported fit last night and is named on the bench, presumably as a precaution for the hurlers.
The hurlers have painful memories of losing John Leahy in a football championship match three years ago, only a week before the hurlers, then National League champions, were shocked by Clare. That reverse resulted in baleful glances being cast at football manager Seamus McCarthy for the rest of the summer.
Tipperary's attack is already understrength with the absence of David Kennedy and Peter Lambert through injuries. Corner forward Lambert, who also missed the last two championship matches because of his honeymoon, injured himself in a club match at the weekend.
Declan Browne returns after injury but quite short of match practice and Criostoir McGrath is recalled at full forward after an unsuccessful spell earlier in the championship at centrefield.
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