Darragh Ó Sé makes his long awaited return to the starting XV for Kerry's crucial NFL clash with Laois on Saturday evening as Kerry boss Pat O'Shea struggles with a depleted squad ravaged by injuries, suspension and other factors.
Ó Sé, who made a cameo appearance against Mayo late on, resumes at midfield as Micheal Quirke has opted for basketball duty this weekend while Tommy Griffin continues at wing back as Killian Young remains with the Kerry under-21 team for now.
Kerry start just two of the six forwards from the All-Ireland final, Eoin Brosnan and Bryan Sheehan are the duo on duty. Kieran Donaghy is banned so O'Shea gives Tommy Walsh (Kerins O'Rahillys) his senior debut at full forward.
KERRY (v Laois):K Cremin, M Ó Sé, T O'Sullivan, P Reidy, T Ó Sé (capt), A O'Mahony, T Griffin, D Ó Sé, S Scanlon, D Walsh, E Brosnan, A Maher, Darren O'Sullivan, T Walsh, B Sheehan.
Derry ease into Ulster under-21 final
Derry coasted into the Ulster Under-21 football final with a runaway 4-13 to 0-7 win over Donegal at Omagh last night. Two goals in the space of five minutes early in the second quarter saw Derry assume control.
Enda Lynn fired low to the corner of the net on 15 minutes and five minutes later Eoghan Brown lobbed Donegal goalkeeper Michael Boyle as he advanced from his line.
Donegal responded positively with excellent points from Martin McElhinney and Stephen Griffin but Derry led 2-5 to 0-4 at the interval.
Early in the second half Ryan Kealy blasted low to the net and with points from Mark Craig and James Kielt, Derry led 3-8 to 0-5.
Kealy added his second goal late on to complete the rout. Donegal finished with 13 men after Peter Witherow (two yellow), and Declan Gallagher (red card) were sent off.
DERRY:M O'Neill; D Bell, N Holly, M McShane; B Og McAlary (0-1), C McKaigue, D McBride; M Craig (0-1), B Gormley; J Kielt (0-5, 2 frees), R Kealy (2-0), SL McGoldrick, P McWilliams, E Lynn (1-2), E Brown (1-3). Subs: D McEldowney (0-1, free) for Lynn, C Lynch for Bell.
DONEGAL:M Boyle, D Walsh, M McPaul, M McGowan, D Gallagher, S McGowan, P Witherow, L McLoone, G McFadden (0-2, 2 frees), M McElhinney (0-1), C Murrin, P McGinley (0-1), B Faherty (0-3, one free), S Griffin, E Waide. Subs: R Wherity for Waide, G Ward for Faherty, F McNulty for McLoone, E Hegarty for McPaul, D Gavigan for Murren Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh).
Fox vows to fight HDC proposal
Manager Damian Fox has vowed to fight plans that would exclude the Laois hurlers from a five-team round-robin Leinster senior championship.
Fox is aware of Hurling Development Committee (HDC) proposals to include Galway in a new competition, alongside Kilkenny, Offaly, Wexford and Dublin. But he insisted if Laois were taken out of the competition and Galway put in he would be "up in arms".
Fox admitted he sees some merit in the new ideas but insisted Laois at least deserve the right to qualify via a preliminary round.
The Offaly native added: "Laois are building from the bottom with academies, and although I'm not going to say Laois will turn the corner and start winning All-Irelands, it would not be good for hurling in the county to take them out of the Leinster championship and put them in the Ring Cup.
"Westmeath, Laois and other teams should be allowed to play in Leinster even if it's just a preliminary round to get through to the round-robin stage."
