LAST UPDATE | 14 Jul 2023

COLM O’ROURKE HAS opted for midfielder Ronan Jones and wing forward Daithí McGowan in his starting XV for tomorrow’s Tailteann Cup final with Down.

They are the Meath manager’s only two changes from the team that defeated Antrim in the semi-final three weeks ago.

The team news is in for tomorrow’s Tailteann Cup Final against Down.@BectiveStud

📸 via @BMPHOTOME #AnMhíAbú #MeathGAA #BectiveStud pic.twitter.com/cSqr9xebHc

— Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) July 14, 2023

McGowan has perhaps been given the nod over Seneschalstown’s Cathal Hickey given he struck two points off the bench against the same opposition during the group stage of the competition earlier this season.

Ratoath’s Jack Flynn is replaced by Jones in the middle of the park while Flynn’s clubmate Ben Wyer has earned a place on the bench with Michael Murphy dropping out.

Meanwhile, Patrick Branagan and Donagh McAleenan are both set to start for Down in Saturday’s final.

Both players were introduced as second-half substitutes in the 22-point demolition of Laois in the semi-finals, and manager Conor Laverty now recalls them to the starting XV.

Shealan Johnston and Rory Mason both drop to the subs bench.

Throw-in at Croke Park is at 3pm, Live on RTE 2.

Meath

1. Sean Brennan (Dunderry) 

2. Adam O’Neill (Wolfe Tones), 3. Ronan Ryan (Summerhill), 4. Harry O’Higgins (Drumbaragh Emmets)

5. Donal Keogan (Captain – Rathkenny), 6. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey), 7. Sean Coffey (Ballinabrackey)

8. Ronan Jones (St. Peter’s Dunboyne), 9. Conor Gray (Dunshaughlin)

10. Daithí McGowan (Ratoath), 11. James McEntee (Curraha), 12. Jack O’Connor (Curraha)

13. Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars), 14. Mathew Costello (Dunshaughlin), 15. Aaron Lynch (Trim)

Subs: 16. Harry Hogan (Longwood), 17. Ciaran Caulfield (Trim), 18. Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey), 19. Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown), 20. Jack Flynn (Ratoath), 21. Eoghan Frayne (Summerhill), 22. Michael Flood (St. Brigid’s), 23. Donal Lenihan (St. Peter’s Dunboyne), 24. Diarmuid Moriarty (Curraha), 25. Keith Curtis (Rathkenny), 26. Ben Wyer (Ratoath).

Down

1. Niall Kane (Kilcoo)

2. Patrick McCarthy (Burren), 3. Pierce Laverty (Saval), 4. Anthony Doherty (RGU Downpatrick)

5. Miceál Rooney (Kilcoo), 6. Ceilum Doherty (Kilcoo), 7. Patrick Branagan (Clonduff)

8. Daniel Guinness (Carryduff), 9. Odhran Murdock (Burren)

10. Liam Kerr (Burren), 11. Donagh McAleenan (Warrenpoint), 12. Danny Magill (Burren)

13. Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo), 14. Pat Havern (Saval), 15. Ryan Johnston (Kilcoo)

Subs: John O’Hare (Glenn), Shane Annett (Mayobridge), Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo), Ross Carr (Clonduff), Shealan Johnston (Kilcoo), Rory Mason (Loughinisland), Gerard Collins (RGU Downpatrick), Andrew Gilmore (St John’s), Conor Poland (Longstone), Peter Fegan (Burren), Ryan Magill (Burren).