Fermanagh to keep Brewster in reserve

Despite kicking the most famous point in Fermanagh's football history three weeks ago, Tom Brewster has not been given a starting…

Despite kicking the most famous point in Fermanagh's football history three weeks ago, Tom Brewster has not been given a starting berth for Sunday's All-Ireland football championship semi-final against Mayo at Croke Park.

Brewster came off the bench in the August 7th quarter-final victory over Armagh, for Ciarán O'Reilly, as he has done in previous qualifier games, to kick three points. The final and decisive strike came in injury time.

Brewster is a key member of Charlie Mulgrew's panel but has been unable to break back into the starting 15 after spending six months in Australia earlier this year. He has been a regular contributor to Fermanagh football in recent times, kicking two of the county's paltry five points in last year's defeat to Tyrone at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.

The only other change from the last day sees James Sherry back at full forward. Stephen Maguire's physical presence was preferred on the edge of the square against Armagh's Francie Bellew, with Sherry starting at centre forward.

READ MORE

Eamon Sherry is still unavailable for selection after twisting his knee just under a month ago. However, his other brother, Peter, also lines up from the start.

Meanwhile, the GAA have announced there are no tickets available from the ticket office in Croke Park for the game between Mayo and Fermanagh and the Murphy Cup final between Clare and Sligo.

Should tickets become available due to returns from counties, details for their sale will be announced.

The GAC have called up one more player from both the Laois and Cork minor panels to face further disciplinary charges under Rule 140 of the GAA (discrediting the association).

The Laois player called up is Donie Brennan. Their hearings will take place tomorrow in Dublin - an obvious hindrance to the teams' preparations for Sunday's quarter-final refixture in Thurles. Suspensions of up to eight weeks may follow.

If Brennan is banned Joe Delaney would take over the number 14 shirt. Colm Munnelly replaces Eoin Culliton in goal, while Brendan Quigley's absence sees Enda Butler move to midfield with Shane O'Neill coming in at right-half forward. An official team sheet will not be released until tomorrow.

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor is facing another serious injury crisis after it became evident Colm Cooper suffered a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the Munster champions' victory over Dublin last Saturday. Cooper was left out of the under-21 provincial final defeat to Cork on Wednesday night.

"Colm is getting a lot of treatment on the injury but it is too early to tell if he will be fit," said O'Connor. "It happened in the last five minutes against Dublin but he stayed on as we had used up our five subs. I actually didn't realise it had happened. We won't speculate until we see how it goes."

Considering Cooper's excellent form and Séamus Moynihan's continuing ankle problems, Kerry may have to go into their All-Ireland semi-final against Derry on Sunday week without two of their most influential players. Moynihan will attempt to resume training next week.

Derry's major injury concern is Paddy Bradley but the fact he started against Westmeath bodes well.

Tyrone minor manager Liam Donnelly has made four enforced changes to his line-up for tomorrow's All-Ireland football semi-final against Down in Casement Park. Captain Marc Cunningham, Shane O'Hagan, Brendan Boggs and goalkeeper Darren McCann are all ruled out through injury.

Donnelly has expressed his displeasure with the final being bumped out of its traditional slot in Croke Park to make way for the Tommy Murphy Cup final between Clare and Sligo.

"I'm very disappointed. Is it not enough for teams to be getting a second chance to play in Croke Park through the qualifiers without a third chance also being given?" he asked.

FERMANAGH (SF v Mayo):N Tinney; N Bogue, B Owens, R McCluskey; R Johnston, S McDermott, P Sherry; M McGrath, L McBarron; E Maguire, S Maguire, M Little; C O'Reilly, J Sherry, C Bradley.

CORK (MF v Laois):K O'Halloran; S O'Donoghue, K O'Halloran, K Harrington; S Keohane, N Horgan, E Cadogan; F Gould, C Keane; P Kerrigan, C Callinan, D Crowley; D Goulding, A Concannon, K Canty.

TYRONE (MF v Down):J Curran; N McGinn, P Marlowe, D Burke; J Gilmore, N Kerr, M Murray; R Mulgrew, G McCaughey; C O'Neill, A Cassidy, R McCrory; G Devlin, C Cavanagh, S Donaghy.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent