THE INTER-COUNTY pre-season competitions are ramping up on the first weekend of the New Year, with five games taking place today and a host of matches on the cards tomorrow.
Cian O’Neill has made nine changes to the Kildare outfit that will take on Westmeath tomorrow afternoon in The Downs with Mark Hyland, Mark Dempsey, David Malone, Eoin Doyle, Fionn Dowling, Pascal Connell, David Slattery, Conor Hartley and Neil Flynn all coming into the team.
The Lilywhites are searching for their third straight win in the O’Byrne Cup against the Lake County. Westmeath need a win to seal a semi-final against Longford and Jack Cooney announced his team this evening.
Meanwhile, new Down boss Paddy Tally has made four changes to the side that lost to Cavan in the McKenna Cup last weekend. They face Donegal in Newry, with Johnny Parr, Shay Murnin, Gerard Collins and Ciaran Harney all introduced.
And Terry Hyland, who will lead Leitrim into competitive action for the first time in the FBD League against James Horan’s Mayo, has also unveiled his selection.
Kildare
1. Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)
2. Mark Hyland (Athy)
3. Mark Barrett (Ballymore Eustace)
4. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)
5. David Malone (Raheens)
6. Eoin Doyle (Naas)
7. James Murray (Moorefield)
8. Fionn Dowling (Suncroft)
9. Pascal Connell (Athy)
10. David Slattery (Confey)
11. Adam Tyrrell (Moorefield)
12. Conor Hartley (Sarsfields)
13. Neil Flynn (Maynooth)
14. Ben McCormack (Sarsfields)
15. Padraig Fogarty (St Laurences)
Westmeath
1. Kevin Fagan (Tubberclair)
2. Boidu Sayeh (Rosemount)
3. Ronan Wallace (Multyfarnham)
4. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
5. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
6. Noel Mulligan (Athlone)
7. David Lynch (St. Malachys)
8. Sean Flanagan (St. Lomans Mullingar)
9. Sam Duncan (Milltownpass)
10. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass)
11. Callum McCormack (Maryland)
12. Paddy Fagan (Mullingar Shamrocks)
13. Ronan O Toole (St. Lomans Mullingar)
14. Kieran Martin (Maryland)
15. Joe Halligan (Milltown)
Down
Leitrim
1. Diarmuid McKiernan
2. Paddy Maguire
3. Fergal McTague
4. Michael McWeeney
5. Conor Reynolds
6. Ray Mulvey
7. Shane Quinn
8. Dean McGovern
9. Mark Plunkett
10. Sean McWeeney
11. Cillian McGloin
12. Jack Heslin
13. Evan Sweeney
14. Pearce Dolan
15. Domhnaill Flynn
Gavan Casey, Murray Kinsella and Andy Dunne preview the weekend’s action:
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