skip to main content

GAA Digest: Gavin unleashes big guns for final showdown

Johnny Cooper starts against Galway
Johnny Cooper starts against Galway

Dublin manager Jim Gavin has brought back the big guns for Sunday's Allianz Football League Division final against Galway at Croke Park.

Stephen Cluxton returns in goal after Evan Comerford got a runout in the loss to Monaghan last week, while Johnny Cooper comes into the half-back line at the expense of Darren Daly.

Michael Darragh Macauley partners Brian Fenton in a powerhouse midfield; with Ciaran Kilkenny and Paddy Andrews boosting the attack.

Kevin Walsh also beefs up his starting 15 for the Croke Park collision.

Sean Andy O Ceallaigh, Eoghan Kerin, Cathal Sweeney, Johnny Heaney, Peter Cooke, Barry McHugh and captain Damien Comer are all come back having been rested up for last Sunday's win against Kildare.

Dublin (Div 1 FL final v Galway): Stephen Cluxton; Philly McMahon, Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne; James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, John Small; Brian Fenton, Michael Darragh Macauley; Brian Howard, Kevin McManamon, Niall Scully; Dean Rock, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paddy Andrews

Galway: Ruairi Lavelle; Declan Kyne, Sean Andy O Ceallaigh, Eoghan Kerin; Gareth Bradshaw, Cathal Sweeney, Johnny Heaney; Peter Cooke, Ciaran Duggan; Eamonn Brannigan, Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly; Barry McHugh, Damien Comer, Sean Armstrong.

Brian Cody has rung the changes for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-final against Wexford.

The Kilkenny boss makes five changes to the starting 15 he fielded in the win against Offaly. 

Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy comes back in ahead of Darren Brennan, Enda Morrissey comes in at left half-back, Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly and Bill Sheehan slot into the forward line.

Kilkenny (Div 1 HL semi-final v Wexford): Eoin Murphy; Joey Holden, Padraig Walsh, Paddy Deegan; Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Enda Morrissey; Richie Leahy, James Maher; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, John Donnelly; Ger Aylward, Walter Walsh, Bill Sheehan

Subs: Darren Brennan, Conor O'Shea, Conor Browne, Lester Ryan, Conor Fogarty, Pat Lyng, Luke Scanlon, Liam Blanchfield, Alan Murphy, Conor Martin

Tipp have tweaked their side for the Thurles semi-final showdown against Limerick on Saturday evening.

Michael Ryan brings Daragh Mooney back in goal, with Tomas Hamill named at left half-back and a debut for corner-forward Willie Connors.

Cathal Barrett, Brendan Maher and John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer are on the bench.

Limerick's shootout hero Colin Ryan starts for the Treaty.

Ryan nailed the decisive sudden-death free to see off Clare in the quarter-final, the first time a league game was decided by a free-taking competition.

It's the only change manager John Kiely makes for the Thurles clash, as Paul Browne misses out.

Tipperary (Div 1 HL semi-final v Limerick): Daragh Mooney; Alan Flynn, James Barry, Michael Cahill; Barry Heffernan, Padraic Maher, Tomas Hamill; Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher; Sean Curran, Billy McCarthy, John McGrath; Michael Breen, Jason Forde, Willie Connors

Subs: Brian Hogan, Cathal Barrett, Ger Browne, Cian Darcy, Paudie Feehan, Brendan Maher, Donagh Maher, Paul Maher, Sean O'Brien, John O'Dwyer, Mark Russell

Limerick (Div 1 HL semi-final v Tipperary): Nicky Quaid; Sean Finn, Seamus Hickey, Richie English; Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannin, Dan Morrissey; Colin Ryan, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Barry Murphy       

Forward Adrian Cole replaces Conor Moynagh in the only change to Cavan's starting 15 for the Allianz Football League Division 2 final against Roscommon on Sunday.

Cole came off the bench in the crucial win over Tipperary last week and gets the nod for the Croke Park decider.

Kevin McStay also makes just the one alteration to his team.

James Featherston comes in between the sticks after Colm Lavin, who kept goal for the win against Cork last week.

Cavan (Div 2 FL final v Roscommon): Raymond Galligan; Jason McLoughlin, Padraig Faulkner, Enda Flanagan; Martin Reilly, Ciaran Brady, Oisin Kiernan; Gearoid McKiernan, Killian Clarke; Dara McVeety, Bryan Magee, Cian Mackey; Caoimhin O'Reilly, Adrian Cole, Conor Bradley.

Roscommon: James Featherston, David Murray, Peter Domican, Fergal Lennon; Conor Daly, Ultan Harney, Brian Stack; Tadhg O'Rourke, Cathal Compton; Ciarain Murtagh, Niall Kilroy, Conor Devaney; Donie Smith, Ciaran Lennon, Diarmuid Murtagh   

Tipperary make a rake of changes for their crunch Allianz Fiootball League Division 2 meeting Down in Newry on Saturday afternoon.

Liam Kearns starts Ciaran Kendrick, Colm O'Shaughnessy, Paddy Coddy, Kevin Fahey, Jason Lonegran, Kevin O'Halloran and Liam Boland.

Down must win to have any hope of avoiding the drop.They also need Louth to turn over neighbours Meath in Drogheda.

Tipperary (Div 2 FL v Down): Ciaran Kendrick; Colm O'Shaughnessy, Paddy Codd, Emmet Moloney; Kevin Fahey, Robbie Kiely, Jimmy Feehan; Jack Kennedy, Steven O'Brien; Jason Lonegran, Kevin O'Halloran, Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Liam Boland

Subs: Michael O'Reilly, Liam McGrath, George Hannigan, Josh Keane, Sean Carey, Liam Treacy, Ian Fahey, Liam Ryan, Stephen Murray, Dave McGrath

Read Next