MONAGHAN manager Malachy O’Rourke has handed a start to Allstar defender Colin Walshe for this weekend’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Fermanagh at Breffni Park – his first start since August 2010.
While Walshe has battled back from a cruciate ligament tear, it is ironic that he gets the nod in place of team-mate Drew Wylie who has suffered the same injury and will be sidelined for the season.
The Doohamlet man is considered more of a man- marker than a full-back so Fintan Kelly has replaced Wylie at number three with Walshe occupying the corner-back berth.
The rest of the team is unchanged from the starting 15 O’Rourke named against the Cavan last month although one positional switch which sees Kieran Hughes move from full-forward to centre-forward as Dermot Malone starts closer to the Fermanagh posts.
Wih Dick Clerkin, Thomas Kerr, Paudie McKenna, Owen Lennon Owen Duffy and Stephen Gollogly held in reserve, the Monaghan bench is filled with experience and match-winning quality.
Roscommon manager John Evans, meanwhile, has made two changes to the side that started against London in the Connacht SFC quarter-Final with Ronan Stack and Conor Daly coming in for Donal Ward and Donie Shine. The much-fancied Rossies face Sligo in Saturday evening's Connacht SFC semi-final at Markievicz Park.
The Yeats county have handed Championship debuts to four players. Daniel Maye and Eoin Flanagan comes into the defence and Cian Brehen - the nephew of team captain and centre-forward Mark Breheny - is named at midfield. Criostoir Davey is the only new face up front and is named at left-wing forward.
Offaly manager Pat Flanagan has kept faith with the same team that suffered defeat to Longford for his side’s All-Ireland Round One Qualifier against Waterford in Fraher Field tomorrow.
Flanagan names the same side that suffered defeat against Longford in the first round of the Leinster Championship.
Meanwhile, Wexford hurling manager Liam Dunne has confirmed that talented full-forward Jack Guiney has been dropped from the county squad, which he said was due to the Rathnure man's lack of commitment.
The Garden county face reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny on Sunday.
Monaghan (Ulster SFC semi-final v Fermanagh): R Beggan; C Walshe, F Kelly, R Wylie; D Mone, V Corey, K O'Connell; N McAdam, D Hughes; R McAnespie, K Hughes, S Carey; P Finlay, D Malone, C McManus
Roscommon (Connacht SFC semi-final v Sligo): D O'Malley; S McDermott, N Carty, N Collins; R Stack, N Daly, C Cafferky; I Kilbride, C Shine; C Daly, C Cregg, E Smith; D Murtagh, S Kilbride, C Murtagh.
Sligo (Connacht SFC semi-final v Roscommon): A Devaney; R Donavan, K McDonnell, D Maye; K Cawley, B Egan, E Flanagan; C Breheny, N Murphy; C Davey, M Breheny, N Ewing; D Kelly, P Hughes, A Marren.
Offaly (All-Ireland Qualifier Round One v Waterford): A Mulhall; B Darby, P McConway, D Brady; N Darby, J Moloney, J O’Connor; J O’Connor, G Guilfoyle; N Smith, E Carroll, N McNamee, A Sullivan; B Allen, N Dunne, W Mulhall
