Dublin and Meath in Leinster semi-final action as Tyrone turn to the Qualifiers
Last Updated: 28/06/15 6:36pm
There is a Leinster SFC semi-final double header at Croke Park on Sunday while Tyrone entertain Limerick in the Qualifiers.
Meath v Westmeath (2pm)
Westmeath travel to the capital seeing their first ever championship victory over Meath.
The Lake County have already beaten Louth and Wexford in this year’s championship but they must make history at Croke Park if they are to return to the venue for a first provincial decider since 2004.
Tom Cribbin hands a start to Lorcan Smyth in place of Ronan Foley as he makes one change to the team that defeated Wexford.
Kieran Martin, who scored 1-2 against the Model County, switches from corner-forward to centre-back while Paul Sharry moves into midfield alongside Darragh Daly.
Meath were unconvincing winners over Wicklow earlier this month but they welcome back a number of key players from injury.
Full-back Conor McGill returns with Mickey Burke and Bryan Menton named in the half-back line. Captain Kevin Reilly is selected at midfield with Mickey Newman at corner-forward.
Meath have already beaten their neighbours in this year’s National League and O’Byrne Cup, and another win on Sunday would clinch a fourth successive Leinster final appearance.
Meath: Paddy O’Rourke; James McEntee, Conor McGill, Donncha Tobin; Mickey Burke, Donal Keogan, Bryan Menton; Harry Rooney, Kevin Reilly; Graham Reilly, Pádraic Harnan, Andrew Tormey, Mickey Newman, Stephen Bray, Brian McMahon.
Westmeath: Darren Quinn; Killian Daly, Kevin Maguire, John Gilligan; Paddy Holloway, Kieran Martin, James Dolan; Paul Sharry, Darragh Daly; Ray Connellan, Ger Egan, Denis Corroon; Lorcan Smyth, John Heslin, Shane Dempsey.
Dublin v Kildare (4pm)
Dublin are overwhelming favourites to reach a 10th Leinster final in 11 years when they face Kildare at Croke Park.
The Dubs began their quest for a fifth successive provincial crown with a 27-point hammering of Longford on May 31.
Kildare overcame Laois after a replay but they have not beaten the Dubs in the championship since 2000, when they were 2-11 to 0-10 winners in a Leinster final replay.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin has made one change to his starting line-up. Denis Bastick misses out with an ankle injury and his place in midfield is taken by Cian O’Sullivan.
Jaston Ryan also makes one enforced change, with centre-back Fergal Conway ruled out after damaging an eye socket in the replay win over Laois.
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Jonny Cooper, David Byrne, Philly McMahon; Darren Daly, John Small, Jack McCaffrey; Cian O'Sullivan, Brian Fenton; Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon, Ciarán Kilkenny; Dean Rock, Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Mick O'Grady, Ollie Lyons; Kevin Murnaghan, Emmet Bolton, Eoin Doyle; Gary White, Paul Cribbin; Padraig O'Neill, Eoghan O'Flaherty, Cathal McNally; Eamonn Callaghan, Alan Smith, Padraig Fogarty.
Tyrone v Limerick (4pm)
Limerick travel to Omagh for their first ever championship meeting with Tyrone and they are boosted by the availability of four first-teamers.
Defenders Sean O’Dea and Stephen Cahill, midfielder Gearoid Hegarty and centre-forward Pa Ranahan have all recovered from knocks and start for the Treaty County.
Limerick manager John Brudair has made one change to the team that exited the Munster Championship at the hands of Clare. Darragh Treacy is named at wing-forward in place of John Riordan.
Brudair’s counterpart Mickey Harte has made two changes to the Tyrone team that was defeated by Donegal on May 17.
Half-forwards Tiernan McCann and Ronan O’Neill, who both came off the bench in that 1-13 to 1-10 loss in Ballybofey, are promoted to the starting line-up at the expense of Barry Tierney and Cathal McShane.
Tyrone: Michael O'Neill; Aidan McCrory, Ronan McNamee, Cathal McCarron; Ronan McNabb, Justin McMahon, Peter Harte; Colm Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly; Tiernan McCann, Ronan O'Neill, Rory Brennan; Darren McCurry, Sean Cavanagh, Connor McAliskey.
Limerick: Brian Scanlan; Johnny McCarthy, Sean O’Dea, Robert Browne; Iain Corbett, Cillian Fahy, Stephen Cahill; Thomas Lee, Gearoid Hegarty; Darragh Tracey, Pa Ranahan, Seanie Buckley; Danny Neville, Peter Nash, Ian Ryan.
