Cork improvise for Kerry

Defending champions Cork will be without a number of first choice players in the opening National Football League fixture against Munster rivals Kerry at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday.

Anthony Lynch will line out for Naomh Aban in the Cork Intermediate final the following day, while Martin Cronin and Joe Kavanagh, also part of the side that lost the All-Ireland final last month, are involved in next weekend's county final with Nemo Rangers.

Michael O'Donovan, back from injury, will replace Lynch in the defence, while Brendan Walsh, a substitute during the championship, comes in for Kavanagh at right half forward. Fionan Murray also makes a start at left corner forward.

Kerry manager Paidi O Se has called up two under-21 players into his side, with Tom O'Sullivan from Rathmore lining out at corner back and Enda Galvin from Finuge at left half back. There is vacancy at full back as Barry O'Shea awaits a fitness test, while Seamus Moynihan makes a move from his regular position at centre back to partner Donal Daly at midfield.

Michael Francis Russell, Denis O'Dwyer and Noel Kennelly have all recovered from their recent injuries to make the starting line-up. Maurice Fitzgerald is the most notable absentee, out for another few months with a broken leg, while Dara O'Se will rest his ankle ligament injury.

All-Ireland champions Meath have delayed their selection until later in the week, but they are likely to be without a number of key players for their opening fixture with Clare on Sunday.

Manager Sean Boylan stayed on in the US for an extra week following the All-Star series in Boston and only touched base with his players this week.

"There are a lot of club fixtures in the coming weeks and we haven't had the chance to decide on a final selection yet," he said. Most probable to be missing are Trevor Giles and John McDermott, both involved in Skryne's county semi-final on Sunday week, as is Paddy Reynolds with Walterstown.

Hank Traynor has also been in hospital all week suffering from a viral infection, Richie Kealy is on the injured list and Tommy Dowd is still not recovered from the back trouble which plagued the later part of his summer.

Dublin had been highly impressive throughout the league last season up until their disappointing show when losing the final against Cork in May. Manager Tommy Carr won't be making his team selection for their opener against Tyrone in Omagh until after training tomorrow, but he is sure to be without a number of his regular panellists.

With his leg in plaster and currently hoping around on crutches, forward Ian Robertson is definitely out. Paul Curran won't be available either due to work commitments, while Brian Stynes has stayed on for a few more weeks in Australia following the International Rules series earlier this month.

Declan Darcy is also troubled with injury and is a doubtful starter, as is Dessie Farrell, and Keith Galvin has opted out of the squad training for a couple of weeks. Paddy Moran is also on a break.

Carr, however, has named a number of newcomers to the panel in recent weeks, including David Moore, Coman Goggins and John Doherty. Defenders Bill O'Toole and Martin Cahill, midfielder David Herlihy and centre forward Mervin Forde are also candidates for selection.

The opening fixtures involve a number of local clashes, including Galway's meeting with Roscommon and Ulster champions Armagh taking on Donegal - the side that took them to a replay last June.

John O'Mahony faces something of a selection dilemma with a number of Galway players either unfit or unavailable. Kevin Walsh is still recovering from a knee operation while Sean Og de Paor has stayed on in Australia until the New Year, where Derek Savage and Shay Walsh are also currently residing.

On top of that, O'Mahony got the news this week that goalkeeper Martin McNamara and corner back Tomas Mannion have delayed their return to training after the championship.

The Galway side won't be named until after training tonight, but O'Mahony is likely to bring in some less regular faces such as Tommy Joyce, Lorcan Colleran and Declan Meehan into the starting line-up.

Armagh only returned to training for the first time last night after having a challenge game last Saturday and won't be announcing a team until later in the week. Both Tony and John McEntee, as well as Oisin McConville and John Donaldson, are highly unlikely for selection due to their important fixture with Crossmaglen in the Ulster club championship on Sunday week.

CORK (v Kerry): K O'Dwyer; R McCarthy, S Og O hAilpin, M O'Donovan; C O'Sullivan, E Sexton, M O'Connor; N Murphy, M O'Sullivan; B Walsh, P O'Mahony, D Davis; P Clifford, F Collins, F Murray.

KERRY (v Cork): D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, AN Other, T O'Sullivan; E Galvin, E Fitzmaurice, M Hassett; D Daly, S Moynihan; D O'Dwyer, N Kennelly, J McGlynn; MF Russell, L Hassett, J Crowley.

LAOIS (v Tipperary): F Byron; JP Kehoe, E Delaney, P Conway; T Kelly, D Conroy, J Higgins; J Murphy, P Clancy; I Fitzgerald, K Fitzpatrick, G Ramsbottom; S Kelly, H Emerson, B McDonald.