GAELIC GAMES: Brian "Beano" McDonald has been dropped by Mick O'Dwyer for the All-Ireland fourth-round qualifier between Laois and Derry this Saturday in Croke Park.
The decision comes as little surprise, considering McDonald has failed to rediscover the scoring form or match fitness required since returning from serious injury less than two months ago.
It was at this stage last year, against Tyrone, that McDonald suffered his horrific double leg break, but it is also a measure of the man that he is back competing at all. The Laois management feel he can be better used as an impact replacement.
Against Dublin in the Leinster final, he was withdrawn for teenager Donie Brennan who, along with fellow lightweight partner in attack Ross Munnelly, immediately went about changing the face of that contest. Brennan starts this weekend at right corner forward.
It was felt Brennan was still too small to make an impression at this level he but he certainly scotched that theory against Dublin.
The other shuffle of the O'Dwyer deck sees Kevin Fitzpatrick moved out to centre forward in a straight swap for Barry Brennan who moves in around the square. Shane Cooke also rejoins the panel after missing the Leinster final because of suspension, having been sent off in the semi-final against Kildare.
Derry manager Mickey Moran will show his hand tomorrow but the chances of half back Paul McFlynn making the team are fast receding because of a hamstring tear.
There is positive news, though, concerning Fergal Doherty and Enda Muldoon. Doherty is such an important presence in midfield that he may swallow the pain and play. He is tentatively back training after damaging ankle ligaments in the victory over Down on July 2nd. The team doctor will make a decision on his fitness later in the week. Muldoon is believed to have shaken off a hamstring strain, but again little will really be known until he breaks into a sprint on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cork manager Billy Morgan has made one change ahead of the All-Ireland football quarter-final against Galway in Croke Park this Sunday with Fintan Goold making way for Philip Clifford at corner forward.
The young Macroom forward has been impressive since breaking into the Cork senior team this year but pays the price for an under-par performance against Sligo last Saturday in Portlaoise, when he failed to score. In fact, he was the only starting forward or midfielder not to find the target in the 3-13 to 0-11 victory.
Clifford is a former Cork captain and was impressive in the two replacement cameos made to date against Kerry in the Munster final and for the final 20 minutes last weekend. The only other positional change sees John Hayes switched to left corner forward to accommodate Clifford.
This means Brendan Jer O'Sullivan is again wearing the number 14 shirt, although he played most of his football running from deep the last day and will be expected to abandon the full-forward role early on Sunday.
Captain Owen Sexton has recovered sufficiently from a dead leg, as have Nicholas Murphy and centre back Anthony Lynch from their respective knocks. The Cork half-back line of Sexton, Lynch and Noel O'Leary was highly impressive against Sligo with O'Leary getting forward for three points.
The game is scheduled for 1.30pm which has caused some consternation among travelling fans from both Cork and Galway.
Monaghan have made one definite, potentially two, changes for their fourth-round qualifier match against Tyrone in Croke Park on Saturday. Manager Seámus McEnaney has left the wing-forward position open with Rory Woods the favourite to regain a starting role after his 12-week suspension ended recently.
Dick Clerkin has been moved out to midfield to accommodate Woods with Eoin Lennon dropping out of the team that unconvincingly beat Louth on July 17th.
Another change sees Gary McQuaid come in for James Conlon at left wing back. McQuaid had been put off the panel for disciplinary reasons but has been brought back and will most likely take up a man-marking role.
This is Monaghan's first meeting with Tyrone since the Ulster final in 1988, but they have been to Croke Park already this year when a last-minute own goal by unfortunate Meath defender Mark Ward saw them lift the National League Division Two title, their first piece of silverware since the Tyrone victory 17 years ago.
Judging by the pitch invasion back in April, and demand in the county, up to 15,000 Monaghan people are expected to travel south.
CORK (SFC v Galway): K O'Dwyer; N Geary, G Canty, G Murphy; O Sexton, A Lynch, N O'Leary; D Kavanagh, N Murphy; J Masters, C McCarthy, K MacMahon; P Clifford, BG O'Sullivan, J Hayes.
LAOIS (SFC v Derry): F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, J Higgins; C Begley, T Kelly, P McMahon; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, K Fitzpatrick, B Sheehan; D Brennan, B Brennan, C Conway.
MONAGHAN (SFC v Tyrone): S Duffy; D McArdle, J Coyle, C Flanagan; D Freeman, V Corey, G McQuaid; D Clerkin, E Lennon; J McElroy, P Finlay, AN Other; T Freeman, H McElroy, S Gollogly.
