TYRONE'S TEAM to play Down in Sunday's opening round of the Ulster championship against Down features a number of surprises. Adrian Cush has overcome a serious injury to reclaim his place in the attack.
Badly hurt in a car crash in France six months ago, it was feared he might never play again, but an earlier-than-expected return to training followed by a handful of impressive displays in challenge matches convinced manager Danny Ball that he is ready for championship action.
Cush is named as right half forward in an experienced side. Full back Paul O'Neill and new manager Ball are the only senior championship debutants. There was further good news for the Ulster champions when Gerard Cavlan was passed fit following a frustrating battle to shake off a troublesome thigh strain. He comes in at the unusual, for him, position of midfield.
The one major omission is Fay Devlin. Chris Lawn is preferred at corner back and there are also defensive recalls for Paul Donnelly and Noel Donnelly. Cavanan switches to corner forward with Stephen Lawn on the edge of the square and Ciaran McBride in the other corner. Also back in the attack is Ciaran Loughran.
Meanwhile, Clare's hurlers will include four senior championship debutants in the side to play Kerry in Ennis in the first round of the Munster championship. Brian Quinn replaces the suspended Frank Lohan at corner back, Colin Lynch moves to midfield, Niall Gilligan is at right corner forward and Barry Murphy in the other corner of the attack.
Aside from Lohan's absence, the team shows two other changes from the side beaten narrowly by Tipperary in Ennis last Saturday night. Ollie Baker, a star of the All-Ireland winning team of 1995, is dropped because of continuing poor form and David Forde is also omitted.
Into the side come Quinn, Fergal Hegarty - another veteran of the All-Ireland win who has been recently injured - and Ger `Sparrow' O'Loughlin, another medallist, in the unusual position of full forward where he had an outing against Kilkenny two weeks ago in the league.
Finally, Limerick's football selectors have retained the side that drew with Tipperary last weekend for Sunday's replay in Clonmel.
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