DONEGAL HAVE NAMED thirteen of their All-Ireland winning team for their Allianz league opener on Sunday.
Jim McGuinness’s side face Kildare in their Division 1 clash in Croke Park.
With injuries ruling centre-back Karl Lacey and midfielder Neil Gallagher out of the equation, Declan Walsh and Martin McElhinney step into the breach as their replacements.
There are fitness concerns over corner-back Paddy McGrath who has a thigh problem and wing-forward Mark McHugh who has been hampered by Osteitis pubis but both are expected to play.
DONEGAL: 1. Paul Durcan (Four Masters); 2. Paddy McGrath (Ardara), 3. Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair), 4. Eamon McGee (Gaoth Dobhair); 5. Frank McGlynn (Glenfin), 6. Declan Walsh (Malin), 7. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill); 8. Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s), 9. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s); 10. Mark McHugh (Kilcar), 11. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill), 12. Ryan Bradley (Buncrana); 13. Colm McFadden (St Michael’s), 14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), 15. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar).
Meanwhile Damien Cahalane will make his league debut for the Cork footballers on Saturday night against Dublin in Croke Park.
Conor Counihan has handed the Castlehaven youngster a starting berth at wing-back in a team that contains 11 of the players that started against Donegal in last August’s All-Ireland semi-final.
Goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran, corner-back Jamie O’Sullivan, Cahalane and centre-forward Pearse O’Neill are the players drafted in.
CORK: 1. Ken O’Halloran (Bishopstown); 2. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas), 3. Michael Shields (St Finbarr’s), 4. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown); 5. Paudie Kissane (Clyda Rovers), 6. Graham Canty (Bantry Blues), 7. Damien Cahalane (Castlehaven); 8. Alan O’Connor (St Colum’s), 9. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk); 10. Fintan Goold (Macroom), 11. Pearse O’Neill (Aghada), 12. Ciaran Sheehan (Eire Og); 13. Colm O’Neill (Ballyclough), 14. Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond), 15. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers).
The Cork subs list has also been released with newcomers included like Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty) and John O’Rourke who have won Munster U21 medals for the last two years, and Thomas Clancy (Fermoy) who lined out for UCC in the Sigerson Cup this week.
Also named on the bench are 2009 All-Ireland U21 medal winner John McLoughlin and 2007 All-Ireland U21 winning captain Andrew O’Sullivan.
Subs: 16. David Lordan (Ballincollig), 17. John McLoughlin (Kanturk), 18. Eoin O’Mahony (Macroom), 19. Noel O’Leary (Cill na Martra), 20. Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), 21. Denis O’Sullivan (Ballinascarthy), 22. Thomas Clancy (Fermoy), 23. Andrew O’Sullivan (Castletownbere), 24. John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), 25. Barry O’Driscoll (Nemo Rangers), 26. Mark Collins (Castlehaven).
