Sunday, Croke Park, 1.30pm, (Ref: Fergal Kelly, Longford)
AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT of last year’s All-Ireland minor football final defeat, Dublin are bidding to return to that stage by claiming victory in Sunday’s semi-final tie with Kerry.
Dessie Farrell’s charges have been extremely impressive to date this season. They destroyed Meath by 3-17 to 1-11 in the Leinster final and followed that up with a 1-16 to 0-8 All-Ireland quarter-final win over Monaghan. Their attack bristles with potential as Cormac Costello, Conor McHugh, Gavin Burke and Niall Scully are all serious scoring threats.
They will ensure Dessie Farrell’s side are capable of posting a winning score in this clash. It’s a huge opportunity for Eric Lowndes, Costello and McHugh as they bid to follow up their All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final victory over Clare recently by booking a spot i another national decider.
Opponents Kerry have made just the one change from the team that scraped to victory over Roscommon at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage. Eanna O Conchúir comes back into the team at corner-forward for Darragh Carmody. Wing-back Brian Crowley’s goal was the critical score in that 1-9 to 0-11 success over the Connacht champions.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side lost to Tipperary in the first round and in the final of the Munster championship but have availed of the system to bounce back into contention. They have a few excellent forwards in Jack Savage, Cillian Fitzgerald and Niall Sheehy, and will need them to be in shining form if they are to advance here.
KERRY MF: 1. Gavin Curran (Daingean Uí Chúis); 2. Cathal Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht), 3. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe), 4. Patrick O’Connor (Daingean Uí Chúis); 5. Brian Crowley (Templenoe), 6.Ronan Murphy (Beaufort), 7. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks); 8. Kieran Murphy (Kilcummin), 9. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil); 10. David Foran (St. Senan’s), 11. Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), 12. Cillian Fitzgerald (Churchill); 13. Éanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht), 14. Niall Sheehy (John Mitchel’s), 15. Conor Keane (Killarney Legion). Subs: 16. Stephen Cahillane (Keel), 17. Gary O’Sullivan (Listry), 18. Darragh Carmody (Na Gaeil), 19. Shane O’Connor (John Mitchel’s), 20. Gavin O’Shea (Dr Crokes), 21. Evan Doyle (Ballyduff), 22. Denis Daly ( St .Mary’s), 23. Sean Moloney (John Mitchel’s), 24. Adam Barry (Brosna).
DUBLIN MF: TBC
