McCormack returns to bolster Armagh

GAELIC GAMES: Ahead of Sunday's big Ulster championship clash with Donegal, Armagh have made just one change from the side that beat Fermanagh so convincingly in last month's preliminary round. Seán Moran reports.

Kevin McElvanna drops back to the bench now that first-choice left corner back Paul McCormack has recovered from injury.

Otherwise, the side is the same as that which avenged last year's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat. It will be the county's fourth big match in eight weeks after the National Football League semi-final and final, which preceded the Ulster championship opener.

Yesterday, manager Joe Kernan announced a clean bill of health. "Everyone's fit," he said. "We've had a bit of a break since the Fermanagh game and the players were back with their clubs, which has helped keep them fresh."

The Donegal side to face Armagh features teenage goalkeeper Michael Boyle, who is called in for regular goalkeeper Paul Durcan, still suffering from an ankle injury.

Boyle is one three players making their first championship start. Karl Lacey at left-wing back and Neil Gallagher are the other debutants.

The only major injury loss is Niall McCready who misses the match with an ankle injury. Adrian Sweeney is fit enough to start.

Donegal have played Armagh every year since Kernan took over. Three years ago Armagh had a narrow win in the Ulster final. A year later the counties filled Croke Park for an All-Ireland semi-final, sealed late in the afternoon by a Steven McDonnell goal and last year the counties were back in Croke Park for the first Ulster final of modern times to be staged outside the province - a match won decisively by Armagh.

Galway captain Pádraic Joyce hasn't been selected for the weekend's Connacht semi-final against Leitrim. Joyce injured his ankle playing in a club match two weeks ago and his fitness for the semi-final has been in doubt since. Manager Peter Ford has named the captain on the bench, but the view from the camp is pessimistic about his prospects of playing.

Ford has had to plan his way around a number of injuries with defenders Richie Fahey and Clive Monaghan already ruled out and centrefielder Joe Bergin suffering from illness.

Clare welcome back two of their injured players for the Munster football semi-final against Cork. Ronan Slattery comes in at left wing back in place of Mark O'Connell who drops to left corner back with Brendan Moloney reverting to the bench.

Stephen Hickey comes back at full forward in place of David Nealon whom he replaced in the last round against Waterford when the latter was injured. Hickey is however a first-choice player and would have returned anyway.

Manager John Kennedy is still without the regular defensive spine of Conor Whelan and Brian Considine who are still unavailable. Whelan broke his collarbone in a challenge match against Tipperary and although the injury has healed Sunday's match comes about a week too early for his return. Considine is suffering from a viral infection.

The side were lucky to escape from the match against unfancied Waterford whom they led by only a point going into injury-time.

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

GALWAY (SF v Leitrim): B O'Donoghue; A Burke, K Fitzgerald, V Feeney; D Meehan, D Burke, M Comer; N Coleman, B Cullinane; P Clancy, M Donnellan, M Clancy; M Meehan, D Savage, S Armstrong. Subs: A Keane, R Fahey, C Monaghan, P Joyce, J Bergin, J Devane,T Giblin, K Comer, S Walsh, N Meehan, D Mullahy, S De Paor, P Geraghty, T Meehan, N Coyne.

CLARE (SF v Cork): D O'Brien; P Gallagher, K Dilleen, M O'Connell; A Clohessy, D Kelly, R Slattery; G Quinlan, D Russell; O O'Dwyer, P O'Dwter, E Coughlan; R Donnelly, S Hickey, M O'Dwyer.

DONEGAL (SF v Armagh): M Boyle; E McGee, R Sweeney, K Lacy; D Diver, B Monaghan, S Carr; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; C Toye, M Hegarty, B Roper; C McFadden, B Devenney, A Sweeney.