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15:58 GMT, Thursday, 18 September 2008 16:58 UK

Kerry v Tyrone (21 Sept)

ALL-IRELAND FINAL
Venue: Croke Park. Date: Sunday, 21 September. Throw-in: 1530 BST.
Coverage: Live: BBC2 NI, Radio Ulster MW and on the BBC NI website


Stephen O'Neill

Tyrone's team for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry was released amid surprise on Thursday with Stephen O'Neill's name not included in the 30.

O'Neill made a dramatic return to the panel a fortnight ago after holding discussions with manager Mickey Harte.

He was expected to at least make the bench and speculation that he will still be involved is bound to continue.

The only change from the win over Wexford is Brian McGuigan's inclusion in place of Martin Penrose.

After being a late call-up, Penrose was hugely impressive in the win over Wexford but he has to be content with a place in the subs with McGuigan return to the starting line-up.

There has been continuing speculation over McGuigan's fitness in recent days but he was named at centre half-forward in the selection released on Thursday afternoon.

There are also believed to be question marks over the fitness of Dermot Carlin, who has been named in the subs.

Tyrone PRO Damien Harvey told BBC Sport that O'Neill "has been left out of the 30".

O'Neill was reported to be "flying" in training and his apparent omission is a huge shock.

The defence has a number of positional switches but the same six backs that started against Wexford have been selected.

606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on Stephen O'Neill apparent omission

The named 15 has Ryan McMenamin switching from centre half-back to corner-back with Conor Gormley named at number six.

Kerry are scheduled to name their team on Thursday's evening with full-forward Kieran Donaghy expected to be fit.

Donaghy missed training for around two weeks after the semi-final win over Cork because of a knee problem.

However, he is said to have trained without any ill-effects at the weekend and now appears certain to line out.

Kerry's only major selection issue appears to be whether Paul Galvin or Eoin Brosnan will start in the attack.

Kingdom skipper Galvin is available again after serving a three-man ban imposed after he knocked a notebook out of referee Paddy Russell's hands in the Munster SFC game against Clare on 15 June.

However, the betting is that Brosnan will be included in the half-forward line with Declan O'Sullivan and Bryan Sheehan.

Tommy Griffin is being tipped to keep the full-back jersey despite the claims of Padraig Reidy.


Tyrone: J Devine, R McMenamin, Justin McMahon, C Gourley, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, C Holmes, E McGinley, B Dooher, B McGuigan, Joe McMahon, T McGuigan, S Cavanagh, C McCullagh. Subs: P McConnell, D Carlin, C Cavanagh, P Donnelly, N Gormley, K Hughes, C McCarron, D McCaul, M McGee, R Mellon, R Mulgrew, O Mulligan, Shaun O'Neill, M Penrose, PJ Quinn.

Kerry: (tbc)



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Related to this story:

O'Neill returns to Tyrone panel (04 Sep 08 |  Gaelic Games )
Kerry 3-14 2-13 Cork (31 Aug 08 |  Gaelic Games )



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