FACED with an intimidating list of injuries Kerry manager Paidi O Se has called up four players for championship debuts against Tipperary in Sunday's opening fund Munster senior football championship tie in Clonmel.
The biggest problem of all for O Se is created in midfield by the enforced absence of Seamus Moynihan who has lost his battle against time to be passed fit. He picked up a hamstring injury in a recent challenge match against Galway and the damage has proved worse than was first thought.
John O'Connell of Tarbert is given his chance to partner Dara O Se in the central sector. O'Connell figured in the National League quarter-final defeat by Cork. The other championship debutants are goalkeeper Declan O'Keeffe, who takes over from Peter O'Leary, Johnny O'Driscoll at right corner back and Charlie McCarthy at right wing back.
They are, in effect, the replacements for Moynihan, Stephen Stack, Denis O'Dwyer and Morgan Nix.
Opponents Tipperary announced their team after training last night, leaving a vacancy at right half forward. Mark Sheehan has hamstring trouble and the selectors are giving the Nenagh man every opportunity to be fit. Tom Macken has recovered from a thigh strain and is selected at centre back.
Meanwhile Connacht football champions Galway have been dealt a double blow through injuries to key players Val Daly and Tomas Mannion ahead of their opening round match against Sligo on Sunday week. The injury prone Mannion, who dislocated a shoulder last year, is now sidelined for many weeks as a result of a broken jaw sustained in a rugby match. Daly is ruled out with a dislocated shoulder.
Carlow have decided to wait until this evening before naming their team for the replay of the Leinster Senior hurling championship clash with Westmeath in Carlow on Sunday.
Dual player Johnny Nevin, one of two survivors of the team that won the All-Ireland "B" championship title four years ago - Johnny Byrne also figured in that team - is currently nursing a rib strain picked up in last Sunday's football clash with Wexford. He is likely to be fit in time but wing forward Declan Kavanagh has a leg injury. Full forward Dessie Murphy is out of the country and is not expected home until before the weekend.
Tyrone will be relieved to learn that Peter Canavan will definitely be eligible to line out against Fermanagh in the opening round of the Ulster senior football championship on June 9th.
The minimum two weeks suspension has been imposed on the All-Star forward as a result of his sending off for a second bookable offence in a club game on May 5th.
Seamus McCallan, sent off on the same day, has been given a one-month suspension and is cleared for the Fermanagh match. The defending champions are, also hoping that Aidan Morris, sidelined on May 5th, will receive no more than a one-month ban.
