Tyrone have lost another key member of their panel as Ciarán Gourley has been ruled out for the year after damaging his cruciate ligament playing for his club St Mary's College, last weekend. The defender was just returning from an injury to the other knee.
Mickey Harte can still name a strong team for Sunday's National Football League semi-final against Wexford at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. Captain Brian Dooher returns having missed the last two games of the league and Stephen O'Neill has shaken off a hamstring complaint.
Owen Mulligan is aiming to have recovered from his hamstring problems in time for the final on Sunday week, should Tyrone progress.
Wexford manager Pat Roe has made one change to his side with Darragh Breen replacing Robert MaGeean at right-half back, while Niall Murphy has sufficiently recovered from a groin injury to start at corner back. Dual player Redmond Barry has also been selected despite the Wexford hurlers' match later that evening in Nowlan Park, which he also hopes to play in.
"As long as he doesn't get a knock playing football we will have him togged out and in the panel but we won't be starting him," said Wexford hurling manager Seamus Murphy.
Fermanagh continue their prosperous existence under Charlie Mulgrew this weekend when they take on Meath in Clones as part of the Division Two semi-final double header at St Tiernach's Park. Mulgrew has opted to use Rory Gallagher from the start despite withdrawing the forward just five minutes into the second half in their last outing against Carlow.
Gallagher and his cousin, Raymie, both opted to return to the Fermanagh panel in the wake of last season's run to the All-Ireland semi-final. Raymie Gallagher and Ryan Keenan are named among the replacements. Meath will not select until the weekend but defender Tommy O'Connor is out.
The other semi-final is the all Ulster affair between Derry and Monaghan. Mickey Moran received good news this week as both Enda Muldoon and Seán Marty Lockhart returned to full training although neither will feature on Sunday. Muldoon has not played for Derry since the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry last August but the current All-Star has recently lined out for his club Ballinderry. Lockhart is just returning from his honeymoon.
In hurling, the Tipperary team to play Galway on Sunday shows two changes from the side beaten by Clare. Diarmaid Fitzgerald replaces the injured David Kennedy with Eamonn Corcoran taking up the centre-back position, while Colin Morrissey returns at midfield as Conor O'Mahoney makes way.
Cork manager John Allen is trying Pat Mulcahy at centre forward against Clare on Sunday.
Waterford, who play Antrim in a Division One relegation tie, are giving Ger Power a senior intercounty debut while Dave Bennett returns at midfield.
TYRONE (SF v Wexford): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Lawn, S Sweeney; C Gormley, G Devlin, P Jordan; C Holmes, S Cavanagh; B Dooher (capt), R Mellon, E McGinley; M Coleman, S O'Neill, M Penrose.
WEXFORD (SF v Tyrone): J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, S Cullen; D Kinsella, N Lambert; D Fogarty, P Colfer, J Hegarty; R Barry, J Hudson, M Forde.
TIPPERARY (SH v Galway): B Cummins; P Curran, P Maher, H Moloney; D Fanning, E Corcoran, D Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, P Kelly; M O'Leary, J Devane, B Dunne (capt); E Kelly (Mullinahone), M Webster, P O'Brien.
CORK (SH v Clare): D Og Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, C O'Connor; G Callinan, J Gardiner, S Og O hAilpin; T Kenny, J O'Connor; N Ronan, P Mulcahy, N McCarthy; B O'Connor, B Corcoran, J Deane.
