Whelan's return only Dublin change

Dublin have got the boost they wanted for Sunday's Leinster football final with the return of Ciaran Whelan to midfield. His reintroduction is the only change in personnel in the team to face Kildare at Croke Park from that which defeated Westmeath in the semi-final although there are a number of positional switches among the forwards.

Whelan had been sidelined from the Westmeath match with an ankle injury and although it had been slow to heal, and forced him to miss a lot of training this month, manager Tom Carr is now confident he has regained full fitness. It means that Enda Sheehy, who deputised for Whelan to good effect the last day, is moved back to the substitutes.

While the backline remains unaltered, all the forwards are named in different positions from those selected for the Westmeath match although it's mainly a case of the players starting where they finished up on that occasion. Senan Connell and Jim Gavin switched wings early in the game and resume in those positions for this clash at right and left forward respectively. Colin Moran, who started at centre forward but ended up in the right corner, also resumes where he finished off. Dessie Farrell will now start at centre forward, Ian Robertson at full forward, and Jason Sherlock - top scorer the last day with 1-2 - at left corner forward.

The full list of substitutes won't be confirmed until tomorrow although it is expected that Vinnie Murphy and Darren Homan - who both came on against Westmeath - will feature. Murphy replaced Moran after 53 minutes on that occasion and has been displaying an excellent return to form this summer. Declan Darcy, however, is expected to be ruled out with an Achilles' tendon injury.

There are five changes from the side which fell to Meath in last year's decider. Missing or injured are Keith Galvin, Paul Croft, Paddy Moran, Darcy and Sheehy. Returning to the defence is Paul Curran, dual player Shane Ryan as well as newcomer Coman Goggins. Connell and Moran are the two replacements in the forwards.

That was a game also notable for the roasting of Peadar Andrews by Meath's Ollie Murphy, although the St Brigid's player has put that experience well behind him. Now moved into the half backs, Andrews has been providing some impressive balance with Paul Curran and Jonathon Magee. Paddy Christie was also his usual rock of stability against Westmeath at full back.

It will be Dublin's third Leinster final decider with Kildare within the last decade. Two years ago the sides met in the quarterfinal, with Kildare eventually prevailing after a replay. From that encounter, Dublin make six changes. Gone are Eamonn Heery, Paddy Moran, Keith Barr, Dermot Harrington, Mick Deegan and Darcy.

Meanwhile, Leitrim manager Joe Reynolds has made two changes for Sunday's Connacht final against Galwayat Dr Hyde Park. Ollie McGuinness takes over at half back for the suspended Colin Regan while the injured Pat Farrell is indirectly replaced at midfield by Seamus Quinn from the team which beat Roscommon in the semi-final.

As a result, Fintan McBrien is called into the starting line-up at right half forward and Ronan Haslett moves into the centre. Gareth Foley switches to the left wing.

Team check

Dublin (SF v Kildare): D Byrne; S Ryan, P Christie, C Goggins; P Curran, J Magee, P Andrews; B Stynes, C Whelan; S Connell, D Farrell, J Gavin; C Moran, I Robertson, J Sherlock.

Leitrim (SF v Galway): G Phelan; D Kelleher, J McKeon, M McGuinness; O McGuinness, C Murray, D Reynolds; S Quinn, P Kieran; F McBrien, R Haslett, G Foley; A Rooney, A Cullen, P Kenny.

Mayo (MF v Roscommon): D Clarke; R Keane, R Walsh, D Geraghty; D Costello, E Devenney, C Moran; E Barrett, A Burke; P Prenty, C Mortimer, S Lindsay; P Carey, A Dillon, T Geraghty.