Moran in Dublin defence

TEAM NEWS: Dublin make three changes for Sunday's relegation decider against Galway at Parnell Park. Colin Moran, a replacement the last day, starts in defence - a new departure for him at senior level but a familiar posting from his underage days.

When introduced the last day against Roscommon at wing back, Moran impressed with the quality of his back play and denied Jonathan Dunning a late goal with a crucial, late tackle.

This could constitute a new lease of life for the player whose formidable potential has gone bafflingly untapped in recent seasons.

In attack there are two changes, with Alan Brogan back after injury at right corner forward, having proved his fitness at the weekend in the under-21 win over Louth, and John McNally, another of last year's regulars, coming into the other corner.

They replace Tom Mulligan and Tomás Quinn who revert to the bench. The match is crucial for both Dublin and Galway with the losers facing almost certain relegation. Because of an inferior scoring difference Dublin will lose out in the case of a draw, unless either Roscommon or Kerry, also on six points, are beaten.

In the same division, Cork, who face Tyrone in a top-of-the table conclusion with the winners guaranteed promotion, bring in three of last month's victorious Nemo Rangers team. Niall Geary, the former Waterford player who had to be replaced shortly into the All-Ireland win over Crossmolina, returns at full back in an indirect swap for the injured Owen Sexton. Alan O'Connor moves to centre back.

Up front Alan Cronin, most people's Man of the Match in the All-Ireland, comes back at left wing forward with John Miskella dropping to the bench, and Colin Corkery is also back, at the expense of Micheál Ó Croinín.

Manager Larry Tompkins had said that he hopes to qualify for the extra matches in order to give the Nemo players some match practice ahead of the championship. And there's certainly enough of them, with another four named on the bench: Sean O'Brien, Martin Cronin, Derek Kavanagh and Maurice McCarthy.

Back to Dublin for the news that Jim Gavin has retired from inter-county football to concentrate on his club, Round Towers, and the county under-21s with whom he is involved. Gavin was an important member of the All-Ireland winning team in 1995.

CORK (SF v Tyrone): K O'Dwyer; N O'Donovan, N Geary, A Lynch; S Levis, A O'Connor, N O'Leary; N Murphy, G Canty; J O'Donoghue, BJ O'Sullivan, A Cronin; J O'Shea, M O Croinin, C Corkery. Subs: K Murphy, S O'Brien, M Cronin, J Miskella, D Kavanagh, M McCarthy, T Kenny, C Crowley, C McCarthy.

DUBLIN (SF v Galway): S Cluxton; D Henry, P Christie, P Griffin; C Moran, J Magee, C Goggins; D Magee, C Whelan; B Cullen, S Ryan, S Connell; A Brogan, R Cosgrove, J McNally.