GAA digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Cork name experienced team for first round tie

HOLDERS Cork name a strong side for Sunday's trip to Armagh and the opening defence of their title, writes Seán Moran.

Colm O'Neill comes back for his first league match since injuring his cruciate in last year's competition. All told, the side shows just four changes from that which won last year's final against Dublin.

Two are enforced with Daniel Goulding still recovering from injury and John Miskella having retired but All-Ireland winning captain Graham Canty starts at centre back.

Tyrone show two changes from the side which won the McKenna Cup last week for their Division Two clash with Kildare at Croke Park. Joe McMahon lines out at centrefield in place of the injured Colm Cavanagh. Pascal McConnell takes over from John Devine in goal.

CORK (SF v Armagh): K O'Halloran; R Carey, M Shields, E Cadogan; N O'Leary, G Canty, P Kissane; A O'Connor, P O'Neill; F Goold, P Kelly, C O'Driscoll; C O'Neill, D O'Connor, P Kerrigan.

TYRONE (SF v Kildare): P McConnell; A McCrory, Justin McMahon, PJ Quinn; C McCarron, P Harte, D Carlin; M Murphy, Joe McMahon; Matthew Donnelly, P Hughes, M Penrose; O Mulligan, M Donnelly, Stephen O'Neill.

ANTRIM (SF v Sligo): C Kerr; P Gallagher, D O'Hagan, M McAleese; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey; C Murray, C Kelly; T McCann, K Brady, M Armstrong; B Neeson, M Sweeney, P Cunningham.

KERRY (SH v Cork): B Rochford; R Horgan, T Murnane, J Godley; P Costello, M Lynch, L Boyle; D Dineen, J Griffin; S Brick, D O'Connell, J Egan; S Nolan, A Boyle, M Boyle.

LIMERICK (SF v Leitrim): B Scanlon; D Quaide, J McCarthy, L O'Dwyer; J Riordan, B Fitzpatrick, P Ranahan; S Lucey, S Buckley; D Treacy, E O'Connor, J Cooke; G Collins, S O'Carroll, I Ryan.

Cavan Gaels back Johnston transfer

CAVAN Gaels have given their blessing to Seánie Johnston’s proposed transfer to Kildare club St Kevin’s, and by extension a potential career with the county side, after signing the star forward’s transfer form.

This latest development does not mean the transfer automatically gets the green light, however, as the Central Competitions’ Control Committee must hold a hearing after the Cavan board raised concerns about the former Breffni captain’s declared permanent residence in Straffan.

The Gaels’ management committee decided on Wednesday night to stick with its policy of not blocking any attempted transfer out of the club.

With the transfer not being supported by the Cavan board however, Johnston can expect to hear from the CCCC in the coming week.

Durcan seals deal for St Gerald's

A FINE goal from James Durcan, eight minutes from time, knocked St Colman's College, Claremorris, out of the Connacht Colleges Senior A football championship as St Gerald's, Castlebar, advanced to the semi-finals at Ballyheane yesterday on a scoreline of 2-4 to 0-7.

The Claremorris students appeared to be getting on terms when they battled back from a four-point deficit – 1-3 to 0-2 – to come within two points with 10 minutes remaining but conceding a second goal was to prove costly.

The semi-finals are both scheduled for Wednesday, February 22nd, at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Ballyhaunis.

In the first match, at 11.30am, Roscommon CBS will take on St Jarlath's, while, at 1pm, St Gerald's will meet Summerhill.

SCORERS – St Gerald's: N O'Malley, 1-0; J Durcan 1-0; P Durcan 0-1; P Gordon 0-1; S Dolan 0-1; S Conlon 0-1. St Colman's: J Shaughnessey 0-4 (frees); A Gallagher 0-2 (frees); S Coen 0-1.