Murphy's transfer request confirmed

Vinnie Murphy's transfer application has been received by the Dublin County Board.

The 1995 All-Ireland medallist has been the centre of speculation that he was to return from Kerry where he has been based for the last three years. Last night, county secretary John Costello confirmed that the transfer application had been submitted.

Murphy was a fixture on Dublin teams from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s. Ironically, Dublin won the All-Ireland in the first year in which Murphy's role was formally and consistently restricted to appearances from the bench. Despite his vast experience and an All Star won back in 1992, Murphy isn't yet 30.

Meanwhile, Dublin's team for Sunday shows two changes in attack with Enda Sheehy and Paul Croft being demoted to the substitutes for the visit of Donegal to Parnell Park. Into the team comes Jason Ward - the former Leitrim player who qualified for that county under the parentage provisions - and Brian Stynes.

Galway welcome back three of their All-Ireland medallists for Sunday's trip to Tyrone. Sean de Paor and Derek Savage who have returned from a sojourn in Australia are both named in the side at left wing back and right corner forward respectively, while goalkeeper Martin McNamara also comes in for his first start of the current NFL campaign.

All three players will be making their first appearances since last July's Connacht final defeat by Mayo. A vacancy has been left at centrefield. Kevin Walsh will start here if he has recovered from an injury sustained in last weekend's challenge match against Derry. If not, Joe Bergin will switch from centre forward and Lorcan O Collarain will come into the team.

Donegal's team welcomes back Jimmy McGuinness at centrefield. He hasn't played for the county since the resumption of the NFL because of an injury sustained in the Railway Cup final.

Last weekend he aggravated his leg injury after coming on as a substitute and nearly making the vital difference to UUJ's Sigerson quarter-final against NUI Galway but despite his five points, Jordanstown lost narrowly.

Kildare give Dale Hynan his first start in three years. The centrefielder last played for the county against Offaly in the NFL quarter-final of three years ago. He comes in for Dermot Earley who injured himself playing for GMIT in the Sigerson last weekend.

Other returns for the county include wing forward Eddie McCormack and full forward Martin Lynch, neither of whom have played since the Leinster championship defeat by Offaly last June. McCormack indirectly replaces the suspended Anthony Rainbow whereas Lynch comes in for the injured Padraig Brennan.

Meath, chasing a first NFL win over Derry since Sean Boylan became manager, bring in two familiar faces for the trip to Celtic Park. Footballer of the Year Trevor Giles comes back from injury to replace the injured Ray Magee while Hank Traynor returns for his first match since the All-Ireland final in place of Paddy Reynolds who is also injured.

Tonight the Offaly Association will present their Person of the Year award to Matt Connor. The former football legend whose career was cut short by a car crash in 1984, receives the accolade in recognition of his work with under-age teams in the county and his general promotion of Gaelic games within the county. He succeeds former and current IFA president Tom Parlon. The presentation will take place in the Regency Airport Hotel.