LOUTH full back Gareth O'Neill, who has recovered from the knee injury which kept him out of their match with Offaly earlier this month, has been restored to the team for the Leinster senior football championship semi final against Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday.
In an ironic twist, his brother Redmond, however, misses the clash with Dublin because of an ankle injury sustained in a club match with Cooley Kickhams and, when the Louth selectors finalised the team last night, they made two changes in personnel and five positional switches.
Gareth O'Neill has been handed the number three jersey, with Gary Curran, who lined out in that position against Offaly, moving to right half back at the expense of John Osborne who is demoted to the substitutes' bench.
The absence of Redmond O'Neill, the team's first choice full forward, has caused major surgery in the attack. Alan Rooney is drafted into the team at left half forward with Ollie McDonnell switching wings to right half forward and Cathal O'Hanlon who occupied that berth in the previous championship outing, moving in to the full forward position.
A sigh of relief was felt in the Louth camp, however, when freetaker Colin Kelly, who has been troubled by a hamstring strain, was passed fit to play and he will line out at right corner forward, switching corners with Alan Doherty.
The other injury in the Louth camp, concerning Nicky Malone, who sustained a damaged ankle in the encounter with Offaly, has also cleared up and he retains his place at right corner back.
The memory of Louth's 0-9 to 1-5 win over them in the National League last February (when Kelly scored eight points from frees) is fresh enough for Dublin, the defending Leinster and All Ireland champions, to take Louth's challenge very seriously indeed.
Furthermore, there are still lingering doubts over the fitness of half back Paul Curran and full forward Joe McNally. Curran has a knee complaint - "Thankfully, it is a bone problem and it is not muscular," said Dublin selector Chris Kane and McNally has a thigh strain.
The Tallaght men did not train at all last Tuesday night and only took a limited part in last night's work out, but they will be put through a rigorous fitness test tomorrow morning to prove their respective well being.
Jason Sherlock, who was introduced as a substitute in the quarter final win over Westmeath, is still receiving treatment on a hamstring strain and the targets for his return to fitness is prior to the Leinster final, assuming Dublin can overcome Louth's challenge on Sunday.
"We can't afford to take any team lightly in a championship match," said Kane. "We have the utmost respect for Louth and are well aware of their capabilities."
