CORK have recalled veteran Niall Cahalane to the team to play Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon this weekend. Joint leaders of Division Two, the Munster champions would stitch up promotion by winning the match.
Cahalane comes in for Kevin Cowhie who had a poor afternoon against Westmeath last weekend. The other change sees John O'Driscoll come into the team in place of Podsie O'Mahony. Typically, the injury-haunted O'Driscoll is already doubtful after injuring himself at training last night.
Kildare's football selectors make three changes of personnel from the team that lost to Derry last Sunday in Celtic Park. Dermot Earley's side face Meath in Newbridge this weekend desperately needing a win to give them a chance of scrambling free of the relegation zone.
None of the three changes will be considered controversial. Martin Ryan endured a harrowing afternoon at the hands of Joe Brolly and makes way for Davy Dalton in the full back line. Dalton had been resting for the pre-Christmas campaign but his experience was much needed in Derry and his recall was expected.
He starts at full back with Glen Ryan moving to centre back and Anthony Rainbow, still on home leave from the UN. switches to the left wing back position. The final piece in the jigsaw sees Sos Dowling move back to left corner back - his customary inter-county position - to replace Martin Ryan.
Up front John Whelan who was named in the original team for Derry but had to withdraw, comes back in for Ken Doyle whose experimental placing at centre forward didn't bear out the promise of an O Byrne Cup outing in the position. Doyle's direct replacement is Noel Donlon, moving from the wing to make way for Whelan.
Finally at full forward, David Fennin replaces Alan Harris in a switch that echoes the first substitution made by Earley and his selectors last Sunday.
Bottom-of-the table Clare host Tyrone at Ennis on Sunday knowing that defeat will open the trapdoor to Division Two.
Unfortunately for them, their challenge has been woefully handicapped by injuries picked up in the bearpit atmosphere at Portlaoise at the weekend.
No less than nine changes have had to be made, including six of personnel. Ger Keane has a broken shoulder, Frankie Griffin a broken wrist and John Enright misses out after suffering concussion. Also missing is Odran O'Dwyer, injured, and Colm Clancy who is off to Australia for three weeks. Peter Cosgrove has been dropped.
The match will start at 2.00, rather than 2.30 as advertised. This is to accommodate Tyrone's travel plans which involve flying to Shannon from Belfast.
In Kerry, it is considered likely that the Laune Rangers contingent will not be considered for selection in deference to the club's All-Ireland semi-final. with Corofin, on Sunday week. Mike Hassett and Billy O'Shea are the first-teamers affected.
Jason Sherlock's chances of being picked for Dublin's Division Two match with Cavan on Sunday have dimmed. Although he has no soccer commitment this weekend with UCD, Sherlock hasn't been training with the panel and is consequently unlikely to make the team.
Donegal manager PJ McGowan reports a reasonably clean bill of health after the match in Navan. There is some concern over corner back Sean McEwan who had to be substituted last Sunday, because of a hamstring strain which he had been carrying from an earlier stage of the match.
What does he hope to get out of this year's League? Last year, Donegal appeared in the final only a week before playing Down in the Ulster preliminary round at Clones. Surely such a convergence would be better avoided.
"It's like last year: our target was to stay in the top flight. All the time we were conscious that the league final was only a week before we played Down but we never really felt we'd be there. We prepared for the championship, irrespective of the league. One thing about it (last season's run) helped us with the number of players coming back into the squad from injury, it gave them an opportunity to play competitive matches."
Meanwhile, Tyrone's chances of having Stephen Lawn fit for the trip to Ennis, to take on Clare, are receding. Lawn, whose place against Kerry last Sunday had been doubtful, aggravated an ankle injury and had to be replaced early in the second half.
St Jude's club in Dublin have announced details of new quadrangular hurling tournament, Corn an Earraigh. to be held this Saturday at Tymon North. It will feature the Dublin Prison Officers. Bank of Ireland East/West, UCD and the hosts.
The Prison Officers' team features Sean Treacy. Galway's experienced full-back and the Bank can call on Peter Finnerty and Nigel Shaughnessy from Galway and Dublin's Aonghus O'Grady. UCD are using the tournament as preparation for their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign.
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