Brogans return to Dublin line-up

Dublin have announced a strong line-up for tomorrow's O'Byrne Cup final against Longford. Team captain Alan Brogan returns to the side, as does younger brother Bernard and full back Ross McConnell, who all missed last Saturday's opening NFL win over Westmeath.

All three picked up injuries while helping St Oliver Plunkett's Eoghan Ruadh to the Dublin league title, but have returned to full fitness for the game at Parnell Park, which has a 7.30pm start.

In total, there are seven changes from the replayed semi-final win against Carlow, but, more significantly, some further changes from last weekend's narrow win over Westmeath.

Forward Mark Vaughan is ineligible as he's already represented DIT in the O'Byrne Cup, while John Leonard is given his chance in goal ahead of Stephen Cluxton.

Longford have also announced a strong team, although there are fitness concerns over five players following their NFL defeat to Wexford. Those in doubt are Shane Mulligan, captain Liam Keenan, Pádraig Berry and the recently returned Paul Barden and Paddy Dowd, who played on Sunday, but are both unlikely to be fit for tomorrow.

While Kilkenny are still unsure if their opening NHL match with Cork will go ahead as scheduled, James "Cha" Fitzpatrick is fully recovered from the foot injury sustained back in October and will resume playing as soon as Kilkenny do. Still ruled out, however, are Henry Shefflin, John Tennyson and Richie O'Neill, who all sustained cruciate knee ligament injuries last year.

Wexford will start their league campaign with a trip to Walsh Park to face reigning champions Waterford, and manager John Meyler is concerned about the availability of players partly due to fixture conflicts.

"Stephen Nolan will be playing at left half forward and next Thursday, UCD have a key game against Pat's in the Fitzgibbon," said Meyler. "The following Sunday, we are away to Antrim in Dunloy so that's three matches in seven days for Stephen, who also has projects and assignments to contend with. The mind boggles and what I said before still stands; if a guy is on an intercounty panel, he should not be playing Fitzgibbon hurling."

DUBLIN(SF v Longford): J Leonard; D Henry, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; P McMahon, P Casey, D Murray; E Fennell, S Ryan; B Cullen, A Brogan, B McManamon; J O'Brien, B Brogan, K Bonner.

LONGFORD:D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly; S Mulligan, A O'Connor, N Farrell; L Keenan, E Farrell; D Barden, P Barden, P Berry; B Kavanagh, D Farrell, F McGee.

LIMERICK(NHL v Laois): B Murray; M O'Riordan, S Lucey, S Hickey; P Lawlor, P O'Dwyer, D Clancy; D O'Grady, M O'Brien; S Lavin, O Moran, A O'Connor; A O'Shaughnessy, S O'Connor, P Tobin.