ONLY time will tell whether Donegal manager P J McGowan's overhaul of the team for the Division One visit to face Kildare at Newbridge betrays a touch of desperation or a hint of inspiration.
Donegal, who need to beat Kildare to entertain any hope of avoiding relegation, will show five changes from the side that fell to Derry last Sunday week - and top scorer Tony Boyle has been moved from his customary full forward position to lead the reshuffled attack.
McGowan has dropped defenders Matt Gallagher and Martin Shovlin, along with forwards Dessie McNamara, Ronan McLaughlin and John Gildea.
Sean McEwen (22) has been handed the full back berth. "Maybe it's time youth got its chance," commented McGowan. Mark Crossan is at centre back while James Ruane, who is back front suspension, partners Martin Gavigan at centrefield.
Kerry manager Paidi O Se. has made two changes for the match with Munster rivals Cork at Tralee. Laune Rangers' Mike Hassett the Kerry captain this season, returns to the right full back position in place of Killian Burns, while Fergal O'Shea is drafted into the half back line instead of Eamon Breen, who has been struggling to overcome injury.
Dara O Se and Dara O Cinneide must again be satisfied with places on the substitutes' bench.
Paul Clarke, who sustained a hamstring injury in training on Tuesday night, has added to Dublin's injury worries for the Division Two match with Laois at Parnell Park.
Although Paul Bealin is poised to return to the side for the first time since last November (he'll be put through his paces, tonight), Clarke has joined Dessie Farrell, who got a knock in a club game at the weekend, and Paddy Moran on the treatment table. Manager Mickey Whelan. has delayed naming his side until tonight.
Laois, who have secured promotion and a place in the quarter-finals will ask Ian Fitzgerald and Martin Delaney to play two competitive games inside 24 hours. The duo will line out with the county's under-21s in the Leinster championship against Carlow on Saturday at Portlaoise and will then face Dublin in the league on Sunday.
With their promotion target already achieved, Laois - far from adopting a casual attitude in the run-up to the match - aim to finish off the campaign on a winning note.
Laois manager Mick Dempsey said: "We haven't beaten Dublin since the National League semi-final in 1986. It would be nice to change that statistic. Also, it is nice to see a challenge to the Dublin-Meath dominance which has existed in Leinster."
Cavan manager Martin McHugh has made two changes for Sunday's Division One game with Tyrone at Omagh. Aidan Connolly and Adrian Lambe have been drafted into the side at the expense of Jason Reilly, and Ronan Carolan. Connolly's introducton at midfield sees Stephen King move to full forward.
Kildare have already secured their place in the quarter-finals, but manager Mick O'Dwyer has delayed naming a side for Sunday's Division One meeting with relegation-threatened Donegal at Newbridge until after training tonight when fitness checks on Paul McCormack and Martin Lynch will be carried out.
Derry, the National League champions, have named Dermot Heaney in the side to play Meath at Pairc Tailteann. Heaney has overcome the flu virus, as has Kieran McKeever who is on the substitutes' bench.
Armagh have decided to defer selection for their Division Two match with Mayo at Charlestown until the weekend. Martin McQuillan is struggling to shake off the effects of flu while Shay McGenney, has a niggling injury. The pair will undergo fitness tests when the squad reaches their destination on Saturday evening.
. The death has taken place in Rockaway, New York, of Tom "Gega" O'Connor, the oldest surviving captain of a Kerry All-Ireland winning side. O'Connor was still a minor when introduced as a substitute in Kerry's All-Ireland final replay success against Cavan in 1937 and, two years later, he captained Kerry in the win over Meath, lining out at centre-half forward. The Dingle man won further All-Ireland medals in 1940, 1941 (completing his three-in-a-row) and 1946. One of his last appearances in a Kerry jersey was in the 1947 All Ireland final defeat to Cavan at the Polo Grounds in New York.
