Kernan sticks with tried and trusted

Armagh manager Joe Kernan has named the same team that beat Monaghan for Sunday's Ulster football championship semi-final against…

Armagh manager Joe Kernan has named the same team that beat Monaghan for Sunday's Ulster football championship semi-final against Fermanagh in Clones.

Breakthrough wing back Paul Duffy remains a significant injury concern due to a groin strain, so Aidan O'Rourke remains on stand-by to make his first start of the season.

Duffy has been a revelation this year and nailed down the number seven shirt with a fine point against Monaghan in the Ulster quarter-final replay on May 20th, only to pick up the injury recently in training.

Although nearing full fitness, Francie Bellew - the rock around which Kernan has built the Armagh defence - must be content with a place on the replacements bench, despite proving his availability with 50 minutes for his club, Mullaghbawn, last weekend.

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Tony McEntee of Crossmaglen Rangers retains the full back position at Bellew's expense after a competent opening two games against Monaghan.

Kieran McGeeney continues a new midfield role beside 2006 captain Paul McGrane as Ciarán McKeever continues to grow into the centre back role.

Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew reported a full bill of health this week and a team is expected to be announced after training tonight.

In other news, the GAA have confirmed that next year's annual Congress will take place in the home town of the new president, Kilkenny's Nickey Brennan, on April 13th and 14th.

Tipperary have made two changes to their full back line for Sunday's Munster football semi-final against Kerry in Killarney.

Michael Phelan and Andrew Morrissey are named as corner backs, while Philip Austin makes his championship debut at right half forward. County football champions Ardfinnan have selected Phelan as team captain.

Tipperary's only All Star footballer, Declan Browne, is named at full forward - while former Kildare defender Brian Lacey has moved to left half forward.

Meanwhile, the M Donnellysponsored interprovincial football final will follow the route of last year's hurling decider and take place in Boston on October 21st. This is the same weekend that the Christy Ring and Tommy Murphy Cup winners play exhibition games in the city against North American opposition.

All three games are expected to take place at the Boston GAA headquarters of Canton Field, a 46-acre site opened for the Irish community in 1999 by former GAA president Joe McDonagh and Minister Dermot Ahern. Three thousand spectators attended last year's interprovincial hurling final between Leinster and Munster at Canton Field.

With over 40 teams registered in the city and in excess of 1,700 players, Boston is one of the strongholds of Gaelic games in North America.

In July, the city will host the third annual intercontinental youth championships when over 1,000 juveniles from San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Toronto and New York will travel to Boston for the largest youth festival of Gaelic games outside Ireland.

ARMAGH: (SF v Fermanagh): McKinney; A Mallon, T McEntee, E McNulty; A Kernan, C McKeever, P Duffy; K McGeeney, P McGrane; P McKeever, B Mallon, M Mackin; S McDonnell, R Clarke, O McConville.

TIPPERARY (SF v Kerry): P Fitzgerald; M Phelan (capt), P King, A Morrissey; R Costigan, L England, C Maher; E Hanrahan, K Mulryan; P Austin, D O'Brien, B Lacey; B Mulvihill, D Browne, B Hickey.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent