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23rd Jun 2023

Steven Sherlock, Darren McCurry, Patrick McBrearty – This weekend’s big team news revealed

Lee Costello

A mix of good news and bad news (depending on who you support).

Steven Sherlock, Darren McCurry, Conor McManus, and Patrick McBrearty are just some of the star players with question marks around their involvement this weekend.

Whether it’s coming back from injury, being dropped to the bench or promoted to the starting line up, there is a real curiosity surrounding which players will be involved this weekend, and in what matter.

The prelimary quarter finals kick off with Cork vs Roscommon, and the question on everyone’s lips is – will Sherlock start for the Rebels?

The sharp shooter is the county’s top scorer this season, but against Kerry and Mayo he was on the bench, only to come on late in the game for scoring-spree cameo.

The St Finbarr’s clubman hit an unbelievable 1-5 when he was introduced against Mayo, so it seemed certain that he would be starting this game.

Well – he’s not. John Cleary has named him on the substitutes bench yet again ahead of this weekend, and seems to be sticking to his plan of springing him in the latter stages of the game.

Kildare play Monaghan straight after, and many wondered whether Jack McCarron or Conor McManus will be starting considering how Vinny Corey chops and changes his forward line depending on their opposition.

McCarron barely played against Derry but then kicked eight points from play the following match against Clare, so the question is – does Corey see him as a good fit to play the Lillywhites? Evidently he has named McManus on the bench, but McCarron to start for this one.

Kildare has a similar conundrum with Daniel Flynn, once considered impossible to drop is now in and out of the team, and despite impressing from a starting position against Roscommon last week, Glen Ryan has opted to keep him on the bench this time around.

In the evening Tyrone play Donegal in an all-Ulster clash that will really get the blood going, but even though Darragh Canavan kicked 10 points against Westmeath, the scoring return from the rest of the team was very poor.

Darren McCurry would usually share this burden, but was out due to an injury, but the good news for Tyrone fans is that Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan have named him to start.

Cathal McShane also returns to the squad after a long absence, and although McBrearty has been slowly reintroduced in the last two games, recovering from his own injury, Aidan O’Rourke will keep him waiting in the wings for this game.

Sunday’s game between Galway and Mayo has positive signs for the Tribesmen as Damien Comer and Sean Kelly have been named to start despite nursing injuries.

Tommy Conroy came off the bench against Cork to score a goal, but remains rooted to the sidelines as Kevin McStay opts for the same forward line.

Follow more team news and updates on our GAA Liveblog.

This week on the GAA Hour, Shane Walsh was in studio to discuss last weekend’s action as the two lads looked ahead for this bonanza of a schedule.

Related links:

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10