Conor Daly set to make senior championship debut for Rossies

 

By Kieran Galvin

Conor Daly of Padraig Pearses will start his first senior championship for Roscommon in this Sunday's Connacht semi-final clash against Mayo at Castlebar (throw-in: 4pm).

The other debutant in the Roscommon team chosen by team manager John Evans is goalkeeper Darren O'Malley.

Daly has been selected at wing-back and he will be joined in the half back line by his brother, Niall.

Both Conor and Niall are former pupils of Athlone Community College. Their younger brother, Ronan, was a member of the Athlone CC team which took part in the Leinster Colleges senior championship earlier this year.

St Brigid's duo Ian Kilbride and Darragh Donnelly will miss the eagerly-awaited clash through injury, as will Donal Keane.

However, Niall Carty has recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained in the recent county SFC clash against Clann na nGael, and the Pearses player will join the Daly brothers in defence.

At midfield, Michael Finneran of St Dominic's will be partnered by Kevin Higgins. The hugely experienced Karol Mannion will lead the attack from centre-forward, though it would be no surprise if he sees action at midfield at some stage of proceedings.

Another St Brigid's player, attacking ace Senan Kilbride, has been selected at full-forward.

With Mayo having hammered Galway in the previous round, Roscommon are facing an extremely tall order against Mayo on their home patch on Sunday. The winners will face either Leitrim or London in the Connacht final.

Tickets for the Mayo v Roscommon clash can be purchased at Smith's SuperValu in Monksland, Athlone.

Sunday's game is will be televised live on RTE 2.

 

Roscommon SF team v Mayo

1 Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)

 

2 Neil Collins (Castlerea St Kevin's)

3 Niall Carty (Padraig Pearses)

4 Seánie McDermott (Western Gaels)

 

5 David Keenan (St Barry's)

6 Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)

7 Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses)

 

8 Kevin Higgins (Western Gaels)

9 Michael Finneran (St Dominic's)

 

10 Conor Devaney (Kilbride)

11 Karol Mannion (St Brigid's) 

12 Cathal Cregg (capt., Western Gaels)

 

13 Donal Smith (Boyle)

14 Senan Kilbride (St Brigid's) 

15 David O’Gara (Roscommon Gaels)