Championship previews: Donegal face Tyrone, Galway travel to Leitrim and Louth host Westmeath
Last Updated: 17/05/15 3:35pm
There are three championship games across three provinces on Sunday, including the crunch Ulster clash between Donegal and Tyrone.
Donegal v Tyrone (4pm)
Tyrone travel to Ballybofey on Sunday seeking to end a run of three successive championship defeats against Donegal.
The Red Hands’ last victory in this fixture came in 2007, while they suffered a 1-13 to 0-6 hammering when they visited MacCumhail Park in March during their disappointing National League campaign.
Tyrone were relegated from Division One on the final day, but their All-Ireland success at Under-21 level has instilled some optimism in the county ahead of the trip to the reigning Ulster champions.
Mickey Harte is without first-choice goalkeeper Niall Morgan, who has failed to recover from a groin injury, but captain Sean Cavanagh has proven his fitness and starts at full-forward.
Donegal give a championship debut to Killybegs clubman Hugh McFadden, who is preferred to namesake Colm in the full-forward line. Mark McHugh also has to be content with a place on the bench as Martin O’Reilly is given the nod at wing-forward.
Donegal: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Ryan McHugh, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Martin McElhinney; Martin O'Reilly, Odhrán Mac Niallais, Christy Toye; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Hugh McFadden.
Tyrone: Michael O'Neill; Aidan McCrory, Ronan McNamee, Cathal McCarron; Ronan McNabb, Justin McMahon, Peter Harte; Colm Cavanagh, Padraig McNulty; Tiernan McCann, Matthew Donnelly, Barry Tierney; Darren McCurry, Sean Cavanagh, Connor McAliskey.
Leitrim v Galway (3.30pm)
Leitrim have not tasted victory over Galway in the championship since 1994, when they lifted the Nestor Cup for only the second time in their history.
Shane Ward’s side ended a disappointing National League campaign in positive fashion, winning their final three matches, but they remain huge underdogs against the Tribesmen.
Galway already have a championship game under their belts, easing past New York two weeks ago, and they are expected to record a 10th successive championship victory over Leitrim when they visit Carrick-on-Shannon.
Kevin Walsh has made two changes to the team that started in the Bronx. Brian O’Donoghue starts in goal while Michael Lundy is preferred to Eddie Hoare at wing-forward.
Leitrim have five championship debutants in their starting line-up. Matthew Murphy and Niall Woods start at corner-back with Allen Gaels’ Thomas Mulvey at wing-back. Ronan Kennedy and James McGrail are named in the full-forward line.
The winners will be rewarded with a home semi-final against defending Connacht champions Mayo on June 14.
Leitrim: Cathal McCrann; Matthew Murphy, Ronan Gallagher, Niall Woods; Seán McWeeney (C), Gary Reynolds, Thomas Mulvey; Darren Sweeney, Shane Moran; Danny Beck, Donal Wrynn, Kevin Conlan; Ronan Kennedy, James McGrail, Fergal Clancy.
Galway: Brian O’Donoghue; Johnny Duane, Finian Hanley, Cathal Sweeney; Liam Silke, Gary O’Donnell, Seán Denvir; Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Paul Conroy (captain); Gary Sice, Shane Walsh, Mícheál Lundy; Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa, Damien Comer, Danny Cummins.
Louth v Westmeath (3.30pm)
Westmeath will be seeking revenge for last year’s loss to Louth when they visit Drogheda’s Gaelic Grounds.
The Wee County were 1-14 to 1-9 winners in Mullingar in 2014, teenager Ryan Burns coming off the bench to score the decisive goal.
Burns is named at corner-forward as Louth make eight changes to the team that started that previous meeting. Retired duo Paddy Keenan and Shane Lennon are notable absentees while the likes of John O’Brien and Andy McDonnell have failed to make Colin Kelly’s starting 15.
Kelly’s counterpart Tom Cribbin gives championship debuts to four players, including forwards John Stapleton and Shane Dempsey as the Lake County chase a second victory in five games against Louth.
Louth: Neil Gallagher; Anthony Williams, Patrick Reilly, Padraig Rath; Declan Byrne, Darren O'Hanlon, Adrian Reid; Bevan Duffy, Tommy Durnin; Derek Maguire, Colm Judge, James Stewart; Ryan Burns, Conor Grimes, Paraic Smith.
Westmeath: Darren Quinn; John Gilligan, Kevin Maguire, Killian Daly; Paddy Holloway, Kieran Martin, James Dolan; Darragh Daly, Ger Egan; Paul Sharry, Ray Connellan, John Stapleton; Ciaran McCormack, John Heslin, Shane Dempsey.
