GAA:Ciarán Whelan and Jason Sherlock are both back in the Dublin team for Saturday's crunch National Football League tie against Cork. With only one win from the previous three games, Dublin need the victory to keep alive any hopes of reaching the play-offs and manager Paul Caffrey has reacted accordingly with some sweeping changes.
Whelan's return to midfield alongside Darren Magee for the first time this year was expected as he had appeared as a substitute in the round three defeat to Donegal. Sherlock starts at full forward, also for the first time this year, and it's the redesigned attack that is most conspicuous.
Dropped from the Donegal game are Kevin Bonner, David O'Callaghan and Derek Murray, with team captain Colin Moran coming back in at left half forward, and Bernard Brogan, younger brother of Alan, at left corner forward. Tomás Quinn moves up to the full forward line, with Alan Brogan starting at centre forward.
The other major change is the naming of Ross McConnell at full back - which is fast turning into a major trouble spot for Dublin. Niall O'Shea started there against Donegal but misses out this time, and it's St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh player McConnell who takes over - despite only making his debut against Limerick in round two, which Dublin narrowly won, and also being better known as a midfielder. Paul Griffin and David Henry keep their places in the full back line, with Bryan Cullen again at centre back alongside Barry Cahill and Ger Brennan.
Cork endured an even more worrying start to the league with defeats to Donegal and Kerry but bounced right back with that remarkable 0-15 to 0-7 win over Tyrone in the last round. The Dublin County Board have decided that Saturday's game will not be all-ticket, with admission available on the night.
In another Dublin matter, the long-running controversy of college teams participating in the club championship surfaced once again yesterday when the draws were announced for the 2007 Dublin football and hurling championships. While UCD will again feature in the football, as defending champions, they have opted out of the hurling.
The follows a similar decision last year, partly due to feelings of discontent among rival clubs.
Earlier this month the St Vincent's club took a motion to the Dublin County Board calling on all third level teams to deemed ineligible for the county championships. That motion was sent to the GAA's Central Council for full clarification.
Central Council, however, then reiterated the views of GAA director general Liam Mulvihill, who had cautioned against any action being taken on the matter. It was decided the matter was a national issue and thus not appropriate for resolution on a county-by-county basis.
At this point UCD are free to compete, and yesterday were drawn against Garda in the first round. The ties also include last year's beaten finalists St Vincent's against the champions of the previous two years, Kilmacud Crokes - although like last year, a backdoor system will again be in operation with the losers of first and second rounds getting a second chance.
Meanwhile, Kildare manager John Crofton will be without forward Ronan Sweeney for the next month at least after he underwent an operation for a long-standing groin injury. The Moorefield player was troubled by the injury for much of their recent run to the All-Ireland semi-finals, although it didn't prevent him from being named the Leinster club player of the year.
And in hurling, the newly formed Wexford Youths soccer team have acquired the services of Tomás Mahon, who has opted to leave county coach John Meyler's hurling panel.
DUBLIN SFC first round draw:Erin's Hope v St Sylvester's; O'Toole's v St Maur's; Ballymun Kickhams v St Jude's; Raheny v Parnells; Whitehall Colmcille v St Mary's, Saggart; St Vincent's v Kilmacud Crokes; Trinity Gaels v Ballyboden St Enda's; St Brigid's v Round Towers, Clondalkin; Thomas Davis v Erin's Isle; Na Fianna v St Mark's; Garda v UCD; Ballinteer St John's v Clontarf; St Oliver Plunkett's ER v Naomh Olaf; Naomh Mearnog v Fingallians; St Peregrine's v Naomh Barróg; St Anne's v Lucan Sarsfields.
DUBLIN (SF v Cork):S Cluxton; P Griffin, R McConnell, D Henry; B Cahill, B Cullen, G Brennan; D Magee, C Whelan; C Keaney, A Brogan, C Moran; T Quinn, J Sherlock, B Brogan.
