KILDARE BOSS KIERAN McGeeney has kept faith with the side that started against Offaly in their recent Leinster SFC quarter-final victory for next Sunday’s semi-final tie with Meath in Croke Park. Eamonn Callaghan has returned to training after being sidelined following a groin operation but it appears unlikely he will be able to feature at some stage in Sunday’s clash.
KILDARE SF: Shane Connolly (St Laurence’s); Hugh McGrillen (Celbridge), Michael Foley (Athy), Peter Kelly (Two Mile House); Eoin Doyle (Naas), Morgan O’Flaherty (Carbury), Ollie Lyons (Celbridge); Emmet Bolton (Eadestown), Robert Kelly (Straffan); James Kavanagh (Ballymore), Mikey Conway (Nurnery), Padraig O’Neill (St Laurence’s); John Doyle (Allenwood), Tomás O’Connor (Clane), Eoghan O’Flaherty (Carbury).
Westmeath manager Pat Flanagan has handed a starting championship debut to goalkeeper Darren Quinn got their first round qualifier tie against Louth on Saturday afternoon. The vacancy was created after regular netminder Gary Connaughton departed last week to Boston for the summer. John Heslin has shaken off concerns over his knee after he underwent keyhole surgery last week to be selected at midfield alongside Paul Bannon while full-back Kieran Gavin, whp captained DCU to win the Sigerson Cup earlier this year, continues to be sidelined with a quad injury.
WESTMEATH SF: Darren Quinn (Tyrellspass); Michael Curley (Mullingar Shamrocks), John Gaffey (Garrycastle); Kevin Maguire (Caulry); Doran Harte (Garrycastle), Michael Ennis (Ballinagore), Daniel McDermott (Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall); John Heslin (St Loman’s), Paul Bannon (Athlone); Kieran Martin (Maryland), Ger Egan (Tyrellspass), James Dolan (Garrycastle); Denis Glennon (Tyrellspass), David Glennon (Tyrellspass), Paul Sharry (St Loman’s).
In the wake of their provincial championship loss to Longford, Laois have rung the changes for their qualifier tie with neighbours Carlow on Saturday evening. Jamie Kavanagh replaces Paul O’Leary at left corner-back while Damien O’Connor and Colm Kelly are selected at right half-forward and left corner-forward respectively with Shane Julian and Billy Sheehan the players to make way. Positional switches see Kevin Meaney move to centre-back, Colm Begley go to centre-forward and Gary Walsh switch to left half-forward.
LAOIS SF: Eoin Culliton (Timahoe); Cahir Healy (Portlaoise), Kieran Lillis (Portlaoise), Jamie Kavanagh (Stradbally); Darren Strong (Emo), Kevin Meaney (Arles-Kilcruise), Conor Boyle (Portlaoise); Brendan Quigley (Timahoe), John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s); Damien O’Connor (Timahoe), Colm Begley (Parnells), Gary Walsh (Ballylinan); Ross Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise), Padraig Clancy (Timahoe), Colm Kelly (Stradbally)
