Championship team news: Kealy handed Kingdom bow

Mike McCarthy will make his first appearance of the year for Kerry when he lines out at centre-back in Sunday's Munster Championship opener against Tipperary at Thurles, while goalkeeper Brendan Kealy has been handed a Championship debut.

Kilcummin clubman McCarthy last played for the Kingdom in last year's All-Ireland final win over Cork, and is parachuted straight back into the team having missed the entire Allianz National League campaign.

Tomás Ó Sé has overcome a leg injury he picked up while on Club duty and starts in his customary wing-back role, while Colm Cooper has made a full recovery following eye surgery, and lines out at corner-forward.

As expected, Kealy, who featured regularly in the National League, will make his Championship bow between the posts in place of Diarmuid Murphy, who retired following last year's All-Ireland victory.

There are five changes in total from the team that beat Cork last September, with Micheál Quirke coming in to partner Seamus Scanlon at midfield, replacing Darragh Ó Sé, who also called time on his inter-county career.

Donncha Walsh starts in the wing-forward slot occupied by AFL returnee Tadhg Kennelly, while Kieran Donaghy replaces Aussie Rules recruit Tommy Walsh at full-forward.

The final alteration sees team captain Bryan Sheehan come in for last year's skipper, Darran O'Sullivan.

Kerry (SF v Tipperary): B Kealy; M Ó Sé, T Griffin, T O'Sullivan, T Ó Se, M McCarthy, K Young; S Scanlon, M Quirke; P Galvin, Declan O'Sullivan, D Walsh; C Cooper, K Donaghy, B Sheehan.

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Tipperary include two Championship newcomers

Tipperary boss John Evans has included two Championship newcomers in his team for the Munster Championship clash with Kerry at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Ciaran McGrath, the Loughmore-Castleiney clubman, makes his Championship bow at left half-back having made his Senior debut in the league this year.

Peter Acheson is another first time starter at this level, slotting into the half-forward line having starred for the county's U21 team in their run to the Cadbury GAA U21 All-Ireland semi-final this year.

Evans has made three changes from Tipp's last Championship outing, the Qualifier defeat to Sligo last year, with Nuall Curran also coming into the side as Christopher Higgins, Brian Coen and Brian Fox missing out.

Tipperary (SF v Kerry): P Fitzgerald; P Codd, N Curran, C McDonald; C Aylward, R Costigan, C McGrath; K Mulryan, G Hannigan; P Acheson, P Austin, H Coghlan; S Carey, B Grogan, B Mulvihill.

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Mernagh debuts for Wicklow; O hAnnaidh makes dramatic return

Wicklow boss Mick O'Dwyer has handed a Championship debut to Nicky Mernagh for Sunday's Leinster Championship opener against Carlow in Portlaoise.

Mernagh starts at wing-forward in one of two changes from the Garden County team that exited the Championship at the hands of Kildare last year.

JP Dalton switches to midfield to fill the void left by Thomas Walsh, who will line out for his native Carlow on Sunday.

The second change sees Alan Byrne come in for the injured Ciarán Hyland at corner back, while Dara O hAnnaidh makes his seasonal debut at full-back after a dramatic eleventh hour return to the squad.

Wicklow (SF v Carlow): M Travers; S Kelly, D O'hAnnaidh, A Byrne; P McWalter, B McGrath, D Hayden; J Stafford, JP Dalton; L Glynn, T Hannon, N Mernagh; D Odlum, S Furlong, P Earls.

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Mackin starts for Armagh

Armagh boss Paddy O'Rourke has made one change to his team for the Ulster Championship Preliminary Round clash with Derry at Celtic Park.

Malachy Mackin, who scored two vital points after his introduction as a substitute in the Division 2 league final win over Down, comes into the team at wing-forward with defender Barry Shannon the one to drop down to the bench.

In a positional switch, Kieran Toner moves from midfield to full-back while Charlie Vernon switches from wing-forward to partner James Lavery in a new-look midfield partnership.

As expected, Ronan Clarke has not been deemed fit enough to start due to an ongoing Achilles injury, but he is named on the bench.

Also included amongst the substitutes are veterans Martin O'Rourke and Enda McNulty, who returned to the Armagh panel towards the end of the league campaign.

Armagh (SF v Derry): P Hearty; A Mallon, K Toner, B Donaghy; P Duffy, C McKeever, F Moriarty; C Vernon, J Lavery; M Mackin, A Kernan, G Swift; B Mallon, S McDonnell, R Henderson.

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Mullan and Bateson debut for Derry

Michael McGoldrick has failed to recover sufficiently from a rib injury to take his place in a Derry team that includes two Championship newcomers for Sunday's Ulster Championship opener against Armagh at Celtic Park.

McGoldrick sustained the injury while on Club duty with Bellaghy and is replaced in the team by Kevin McGuckian who starts at full-back with Brian Óg McAlary switching to the corner.

Michael Bateson, who will make his first Championship start, replaces the injured Charlie Kielt at wing-back, while Fergal Doherty and Declan Mullan, another newcomer, have both overcome injury concerns to start.

Enda Muldoon has been named on the bench and could yet play some part after making a full recovery from a broken foot.

Derry (SF v Armagh): B Gillis; B Óg McAlary, K McGuckian, D McBride; G O'Kane, B McGuigan, M Bateson; F Doherty, Patsy Bradley; S L McGoldrick, M Lynch, D Mullan, Paddy Bradley, E Bradley, R Wilkinson.