CHAMPIONSHIP 2002/Team News: Galway will start Sunday's Connacht football championship opener against Roscommon with all but one of the team that won the All-Ireland title last September. Matthew Clancy has been given the nod over Tommie Joyce at left corner forward.
Manager John O'Mahony said last night that Joyce was definitely in contention for selection, but on this occasion it was decided the position would go to Clancy. There remains a slight doubt over goalkeeper Alan Keane, who was carrying a knee injury from last week, and though he has made the starting line-up he may require another fitness test.
New team captain Padraig Joyce, who collected 0-10 in the nine-point victory over Meath last September, is the familiar figure at full forward alongside Derek Savage. Ja Fallon has also been passed fit to start at centre forward.
Sunday's game in the newly refurbished Hyde Park is the fourth championship meeting between the sides in the last two years - they met twice last summer, first in the Connacht semi-final (which Roscommon won), then in the new All-Ireland quarter-finals (which Galway won).
It was anticipated that Galway would start with the 15 that lined out last September, especially since O'Mahony was enjoying a rare period free of major injury worries. Clancy's introduction has prevented such a rare statistic - Clare, who started the Munster hurling championship in 1996 with the same 15 that won the All-Ireland the previous September, are the last champions to remain unchanged when opening the defence of their title.
There is a slightly less familiar ring to the Armagh team named last night to face Tyrone in Sunday's Ulster football championship quarter-final. There are four changes from the side which faced their near neighbours at the same stage of the competition last year.
New manager Joe Kernan has introduced two debutants to Ulster championship football, corner back Paul McCormack and midfielder John Toal, though Toal appeared in the subsequent All-Ireland qualifiers last year. Joining them in the starting line-up are wing back Aidan O'Rourke and wing forward Paddy McKeever.
Gone from last year's fixture, which Tyrone won by five points, are Gerard Reid, Kieran Hughes, Cathal O'Rourke and Barry O'Hagan. Three of those are named among the substitutes, while O'Hagan has since left the squad.
Captain Kieran McGeeney will wear the number 15 shirt, as he has done throughout this season's league, and will once again play a roaming game. Tony McEntee will play at centre back, with brother John at centre forward.
Another change from last year sees Justin McNulty moving from corner to full back.
There are several newcomers among the substitutes, including Simon Maxwell, Francie Bellew, Paul Hearty, Colm O'Neill, Padraig Duffy and Philip Loughran, as well as Kevin McElvanna, Ronan Clarke and Shane Smith. Injury problems have delayed opponents Tyrone from naming their team, and news of their line-up is not expected until later today.
