O'Hare only newcomer for Armagh
Armagh manager Joe Kernan has named league debutant Liam O'Hare in his side for Sunday's Allianz NFL Division 1B opener at home to Kildare (Crossmaglen, 2.30pm).
O'Hare operated at wing forward in last Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup semi-final defeat by Tyrone, failing to score in a 32-minute cameo. He mustered a point in each of the Orchard county's McKenna group games against UUJ, Fermanagh and Cavan.
Kernan, who guided Armagh to their first league title in 2005, has been forced into making two switches from last weekend's line-up. His son Aaron, last year's Young Player of the season, is out injured, leaving John Paul Donnelly to take on the right wing back berth.
Pearse Og's Ciaran McKinney remains in goals due to a shoulder injury to regular stopper Paul Hearty, while up front, Crossmaglen prospect Paul Keenan, 21, steps into the half-forward line for Paddy McKeever.
ARMAGH (NFL v Kildare): C McKinney; P Duffy, F Bellew, E McNulty; JP Donnelly, C McKeever, A Mallon; K McGeeney, J McEntee; P Keenan, S Kernan, T McEntee; S McDonnell (capt), G Swift, L O'Hare.
GAA: ROYAL AWARD FOR 'KEEPER GALLAGHER
Goalkeeper David Gallagher has been named as the Meath Footballer of the Year for 2005.
The Dunboyne clubman received the gong at half-time in last Sunday's O'Byrne Cup final, which Meath won handily, beating Offaly 3-14 to 0-14 in Navan.
Gallagher has been sidelined with a back injury since Dunboyne's interest in the Leinster championship was ended by Kilmacud in November. The 6ft 4in star, who turns 26 next month, impressively lined out at centre back in Dunboyne's run to only their second ever Meath SFC title last year.
Noted for his long kick-outs and nerveless manner, Gallagher played in all four of Meath's championship matches last summer and is currently nursing the affects of a bulged disc in his lower back.
Surgery has not been ruled out for the Royals 'keeper, who is expected to return to the inter-county fray in April or May.
GAA: CORK'S GOULDING TO MAKE SENIOR BOW
Former minor starlet Daniel Goulding will make the step-up to senior football for Cork in their Allianz NFL Division 1A fixture with Offaly on Sunday (Tullamore, 2.30pm).
Goulding, a Junior All-Ireland winner with the Rebels last season, has been selected at right full-forward for the trip to the midlands, which will see him become the first player from the Eire Og club - more noted for its hurling exploits - to earn senior recognition.
Cork are minus captain Owen Sexton and forward Philip Clifford for Sunday - both players picked up ankle injuries in a practice game on Tuesday. Half-back Sexton damaged his ankle ligaments and is facing the possibility of a four week lay-off.
In all, Cork manager Billy Morgan has made three personnel changes and four positional switches to the side that beat Kerry for the McGrath Cup title last Sunday.
Goulding comes in for his debut, Fintan Gould takes over at right half-forward, while Kevin McMahon, coming off club duty with Carbery Rangers, returns to man the left flank.
The positional changes see two-time All-Star Anthony Lynch move back from right half-forward into his usual left corner back role, replacing Michael Prout. Noel O'Leary also moves out of the attack to take over from Sexton at right half-back.
Up front, Brendan Jer O'Sullivan lines out at full-forward, swapping places with Conor McCarthy, and Kevin O'Sullivan, who scored five points against Kerry, crosses over from the right to replace Robert O'Mahony, last Sunday's goalscorer, in the left corner.
CORK (NFL v Offaly): A Quirke; K O'Connor, G Canty, A Lynch; N O'Leary, G Spillane, S Levis; N Murphy, D Hurley; F Gould, C McCarthy, K McMahon; D Goulding, BJ O'Sullivan, K. O'Sullivan.
