Sherlock exit could hit Dubs
JIM GAVIN will be expected to confirm or deny whether Jason Sherlock has left his backroom team when the All-Ireland champions travel to Tralee to meet Kerry in an eagerlyanticipated Division 1 clash tonight. It has been reported that Sherlock had left Gavin’s management team at the start of a season that will see them go for five All-Ireland titles in a row. However, the Dublin camp remained tight-lipped yesterday. Sherlock had been the forwards coach in Gavin’s backroom since he replaced Mick Deegan before the 2015 season. He is understood to be a popular figure within the dressing-room and his departure may have an unsettling effect. Meanwhile, Kerry manager Peter Keane has named David Moran at full-forward for his first start this season in tonight’s early-anticipated Division 1 match at Austin Stack Park. Moran is one of two changes from the side that beat Cavan in Breffini Park last weekend, with Dara Moynihan also coming in at wing forward. Killian Spillane and Jonathan Lyne make way. In-form Sean O’Shea, who hit 0-12 against Cavan, remains at centre-forward while former AFL star Tommy Walsh has been named on the Kingdom’s bench for the visit of the All-Ireland champions alongside Lyne, Gavin Crowley and Shane Enright. Galway’s injury list continues to mount after it emerged yesterday that Kevin Walsh will have to do without former AFL player Cillian McDaid and Declan Kyne for the rest of the League campaign. McDaid has a foot injury while Kyne has an ankle problem. The Tribesmen must also cope without full-back Séan Andy Ó Ceallaigh for tomorrow’s visit to Inniskeen to play Monaghan as he has a shoulder issue. Armagh will be without the services of gifted forward Jamie Clarke for their visit to Navan to play Meath in a crucial Division 2 match, as the red card he received against Clare last weekend was upheld by the Central Hearings Committee. Sligo’s Pat Hughes also had his red card against Down upheld and will be unavailable for their clash with Laois in Portlaoise. Westmeath’s Jamie Gonoud will make his first start for the midlanders when they play Down in Newry this evening, where he will play at centre-back. Their talismanic forward John Heslin recently made a return to training after an injury lay-off and is expected to be on the bench. KERRY (AFL v Dublin): S Ryan; P Crowley, J Sherwood, B O Beaglaoich; T Morley, P Murphy, T O’Sullivan; J Barry, A Spillane; D O’Connor, S O’Shea, D Moynihan; P Geaney, D Moran, S O’Brien. WESTMEATH (AFL v Down): E Carberry; K Daly, R Wallace, B Sayeh; D Lynch, J Gonoud, J Dolan; D Corroon, N Mulligan; R O’Toole, C McCormack, G Egan; K Martin, J Halligan, S Duncan.