Oates handed starting role for Connacht U21 final

Scott Oates has been drafted into the Roscommon U21 team for Saturday's Connacht final against Sligo at Dr Hyde Park (6pm). The Roscommon Gaels player impressed as a substitute in the semi-final win over Mayo in Kiltoom, and that showing has proved enough to earn him a starting berth for the final in place of Darren Clabby. Sligo are bidding to win their first Connacht U21 title. Since the competition's inception in 1964, Sligo have lost seven finals including two of the last three. Roscommon defeated Sligo in the 2010 final and are strongly fancied to triumph again on Saturday. The U21 decider will be preceded by the Connacht Minor League game between Roscommon and Galway at 4:15pm. The Roscommon senior team also face Sligo this Sunday in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League. Neither side can earn promotion and both are safe from relegation, so the game will serve as preparation for the Connacht championship. *See this week's Westmeath Independent for more on Saturday's U21 final. Roscommon U21 team v Sligo: 1 Naos Connaughton (St Dominic's); 2 Ciaran Cafferkey (Western Gaels), 3 Cathal Duignan (Clann na nGael), 4 David Murray (Padraig Pearses); 5 Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses), 6 Paddy Brogan (Strokestown, capt.), 7 Ronan Stack (St. Brigid's); 8 Fintan Kelly (Castlerea St Kevin's), 9 Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses); 10 Scott Oates (Roscommon Gaels), 11 Niall Kilroy (Fuerty), 12 Finbar Cregg (Western Gaels); 13 Cian Connolly (Roscommon Gaels), 14 Colin Compton (Strokestown), 15 Donal Smith (Boyle) Roscommon SF team v Sligo (Sunday, April 8, Markievicz Park, 2:30pm): 1. Geoffrey Claffey (C); 2. Seán McDermott, 3. Neil Collins, 4. Seán Purcell; 5. Cathal Dineen, 6. Peter Domican, 7. Ian Kilbride; 8. Michael Finneran, 9. Kevin Higgins; 10. David Keenan, 11. Cathal Cregg, 12. John Rogers; 13. Senan Kilbride, 14. Enda Kenny, 15. Donie Shine