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Captain Seán Kelly named to start in only change for Galway

Kelly is fit to renew acquaintances with Armagh
Kelly is fit to renew acquaintances with Armagh

Galway have named captain Seán Kelly at midfield for Sunday's All-Ireland football final against Armagh.

The Maigh Cuilinn clubman has endured a difficult season with injury and was also named to start the semi-final win over Donegal, only to be replaced by Céin D'Arcy before throw-in. That change has now been reversed.

Earlier this week, Kelly told RTÉ Sport he was confident that he would be fit to line out in Croke Park, having been forced off early in the quarter-final win over Dublin.

He previously hurt his hamstring during the All-Ireland SFC group stage clash with Derry in May.

Kelly admits he is a poor spectator.

"It's 10 times worse than playing it," he said. "I can't watch it at all, it's a real struggle. It's one of those, hopefully I get to take part the next day but we'll play it day by day."

His inclusion on the team sheet alongside veteran Paul Conroy is the only switch from the side that lined out against Donegal two weeks ago.

Armagh announced their team on Thursday night, also making one change as Connaire Mackin returns to defence in place of Peter McGrane.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Seán Mulkerrin; Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly (c); Matthew Tierney, John Maher, Cillian McDaid; Rob Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Conor Flaherty, John Daly, Eoghan Kelly, Daniel O'Flaherty, Kieran Molloy, Cathal Sweeney, Céin Darcy, Johnny Heaney, Liam Ó Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Niall Daly.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Barry McCambridge; Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly, Aidan Forker; Niall Grimley, Ben Crealey; Joe McElroy, Rian O'Neill, OisínConaty; Rory Gurgan, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Greg McCabe, Peter McGrane, Ciaran Higgins, Ross McQuillan, Shane McPartlan, Jason Duffy, Oisín O’Neill, Stefan Campbell, Aidan Nugent, Jarly Og Burns.

Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship final, Armagh v Galway, on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1

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