Walsh back for Galway as O’Connor gets Kerry go-ahead

Shane Walsh is back in the Galway team after being named at centre-forward in their side to face Sligo tomorrow with Damien Comer on the bench.

The pair were among a host of Galway frontliners to miss most of the league but they have been drafted in for the trip to Markievicz Park. Seán Kelly captains the side from midfield alongside veteran Paul Conroy but there is still no return for Cillian McDaid.

Kerry boss Jack O’ Connor has handed out first championship starts to three players for tomorrow’ s Munster SFC semi-final with Cork in Fitzgerald Stadium.

Joe O’Connor, who had been a doubt with a hamstring strain, makes his maiden championship start alongside full debutants Seán O’Brien of Beaufort and Cillian Burke of Milltown/Castlemaine. Tadhg Morley, meanwhile, will continue to deputise for the injured Jason Foley – who doesn’t make the match-day 26 – at full-back, with Gavin White moving to centre-back.

Elsewhere, Ben O’Carroll has to make do with a place on the Roscommon bench for Sunday’s Connacht SFC clash with Mayo. Tadhg O’Rourke is back in the team – at the expense of Pat Gavin – in the only change from the side that lost to Derry on the final day of the league, but St Brigid’s star O’Carroll is not named to start.

Elsewhere, Tyrone have their own heavy-hitting attack with the Canavan brothers Ruairi and Darragh alongside Darren McCurry in the full-forward line to face Cavan. Mattie Donnelly anchors the defence from No 6 with former footballer of the year Kieran McGeary named at centre-forward. Gal way( SF C vS li go ): CG lee son; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, J Glynn;DMc Hugh, J Daly, LS ilke;P Conroy, SK elly;JH ea ney, S Walsh, C Darcy; J McCabe, RF inner ty,LÓCongh aile. Kerry( SFCvCork):S Murphy; P Murphy, T Morley, T O’ Sullivan; GO’ Sullivan, G White, SO’ Brien; DO’ Connor, J O’ Connor; A Spillane, P Clifford, C Burke; D Clifford, SO’ Shea, D Moynihan. Ros common( SFCv Mayo ): C Carroll; D Murray, B Stack, N Higgins; N Daly, R Fall on, EM cC or mack; E Smith, TO’ Rourke; D Ruane, UH arney, R Daly; D Smith, DC regg,DM ur tagh. Tyrone( SFCv Cavan): N Morgan; C Devlin, PH a mp sey,M McKernan; SO’ Donnell, M Donnelly, N Devlin; B Kennedy, A Do na ghy;C Daly, KM c Geary, JOguz;DMc Curry, DC ana van, R Canavan. An trim( SHCvKil kenny ): RE ll iott;PDuf fin, RMc Garry, P Burke; S Walsh, E Campbell, CB oh ill; J McNaughton, N O’ Connor; M Bradley, N Elliott, NM cK en na; C Cunning, C McCann, S Elliott.