Sherlock back to tackle Monaghan

JASON SHERLOCK is back in a Dublin jersey for his first competitive match since last July's Leinster final.

The multi-talented ball player, who made such an impact during the county's All-Ireland success in 1995, has been unavailable during the current League campaign because of his scholarship commitments with the UCD soccer club which prevented him from training with the Dublin seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The matter has been partially resolved by Sherlock's attendance at training with the under-21s whose sessions under manager Dave Billings take place on Mondays and Wednesdays. He also turned out for his club Na Fianna in last week's under-21 championship. Dublin manager Mickey Whelan and his selectors name Sherlock at left corner forward.

Dublin are in urgent need of success when they visit Monaghan on Sunday. On four points, they will need to move up the table before the final match against current joint leaders of Division Two, Laois.

Sherlock's re-appearance is one of two changes from the team that lost to Louth a fortnight ago. He replaces Kilmacud's Ray Cosgrove whereas in defence, Paddy Moran returns at full back, indirectly replacing Dermot Harrington, with Ciaran Walsh switching to the corner and Eamonn Heery moving out to wing back.

Another player making a first appearance since the summer is Derry's Karl Diamond, selected at left wing back for Sunday's match against Donegal, who has not played for the county since last June's Ulster semi-final defeat by Tyrone. He replaces Gary Coleman who is suspended after being sent off in the last NFL match, against Kildare.

Altogether there are five other changes with Emmet McKeever and Ronan Rocks unable to prove fitness, giving way to David O'Neill and Ruairi Boylan. Elsewhere, Enda Muldoon and Joe Cassidy replace Gary McGill and Stephen McLarnon. Goalkeeper Jon Kelly has been dropped and David Hasson of Banagher comes in for his county debut.

Hasson is one of several Derry players embroiled in a dispute over tomorrow's Sigerson Cup quarter-final between the University of Ulster colleges at Coleraine and Jordanstown. Goalkeeper for UUJ, Hasson and his colleagues have to decide whether or not to line out for their colleges 24 hours before the League match.

Cavan, hosts to Kerry at Kingscourt, have left a vacancy at left wing back, presumably in the hope that Bernard Morris becomes one of several players to benefit from the deliberations of the Mercy Committee which has considered the cases of those players who played in the US without proper clearance.

Also in the Cavan team is goalkeeper Brendan McCormack who, due to a bad leg injury, has not played for the county since March 1995, against Roscommon.

Finally on - the football front, Cork make minimal changes for their trip to Tyrone. Ciaran O'Sullivan switches back to wing back after featuring regularly up front. This move facilitates the dropping of Ollie O'Sullivan from the half backs and the introduction of Terry Dillon at corner forward with Aidan Dorgan moving to the wing.

. Kilkenny hurlers have recalled former All-Ireland winning captain Eddie O'Connor for his first game in nearly 18 months. The Glenmore defender has been picked at full-back on the team to play All-Ireland champions Wexford in the Walsh Cup semi-final in Gorey on Sunday.