KERRY HAVE HANDED a championship debut to defender Fionn Fitzgerald for Sunday’s Munster quarter-final against Tipperary in Fitzgerald Stadium.
Dr Crokes player Fitzgerald starts at left corner-back after impressive displays in recent years for his club in the Kerry championship and the county underage teams.
Fitzgerald’s club colleague Johnny Buckley will make his starting debut at midfield after coming on as a substitute during Kerry’s championship campaign last year.
In all 12 of the Kerry side that started against Donegal in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final loss in Croke Park are included in the starting line-up for next Sunday’s game by manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice.
Fitzgerald, Buckley and left half-back Peter Crowley are the newcomers to the side at the expense of the injured pair of Shane Enright and Eoin Brosnan and Bryan Sheehan, who is on the substitutes bench.
KERRY: Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore), Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes); Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Killian Young (Renard), Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers); Anthony Maher (Duagh), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes); Paul Galvin (Finuge), Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes), Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks), James O’Donoghue (Legion).
The Kerry substitutes have also been named for Sunday’s game.
Subs: Brian Kelly (Legion).Bryan Sheehan (St Marys), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes), Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), Brian McGuire (Listowel Emmets), Michael Geaney (Dingle), Patrick Curtin (Moyvane), James Walsh (Knocknagoshel), Eoin Brosnan (Dr Crokes).
Tipperary
John Coghlan and Ian Fahey will make their senior championship debuts for opponents Tipperary. Manager Peter Creedon has named the two newcomers in his team for the clash in Fitzgerald Stadium.
2010 Munster U21 medallist Coghlan starts at corner-back while 2011 All-Ireland minor winner Fahey will lead the attack from centre-forward.
Ian Fahey in action against Kerry in last year’s Munster minor football final.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Injuries ruled defender Brian Fox and attacker Michael Quinlivan out of the equation for a Tipperary side who have nine survivors from the side that lost out to Kerry by 0-16 to 0-10 at this stage of the championship in Semple Stadium.
Aside from Coghlan and Fahey, the other newcomers are half-back’s Donagh Leahy and Robbie Kiely, wing-forward Conor Sweeney and full-forward Barry Grogan. The Arravale Rovers duo of Leahy and Kiely both progressed onto the team during the qualifiers and started against Down when they lost out to them in the fourth round last July.
Key attacker Grogan is a major addition to the side after being based in the United States last season.
TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy), Paddy Codd (Killenaule), Ciaran McDonald (Aherlow); Robbie Kiely (Arravale Rovers), Donagh Leahy (Arravale Rovers), Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers); George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers), Robbie Costigan (Cahir); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers); Alan Maloney (Rockwell Rovers), Barry Grogan (Aherlow), Phillip Austin (Borrisokane).
