Roscommon and Dublin teams named for league opener
Roscommon and Dublin have named their teams for the Allianz Football League Division 1 South match at Dr Hyde Park tomorrow (Sunday).
There are two players from county champions St Brigid's on Roscommon's starting XV: Brian Stack and Eddie Nolan, who has been selected at midfield. Nolan will be partnered by Shane Killoran, whose 2020 season was significantly disrupted by injury.
There are two Padraig Pearses players in defence - David Murray and Niall Daly - while Clann na nGael's Feargal Lennon has been given the nod in the pivotal full-back position.
The Murtagh brothers, Ciarain and Diarmuid, are included in the forward line, with the likes of Conor Cox, Cian McKeon, Ciaran Lennon and Hubert Darcy providing attacking options on the bench.
Overall, Anthony Cunningham's team shows seven changes from the side that lost to Mayo in last year's Connacht SFC semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Dublin team includes 13 of last year's All-Ireland winning 15.
Only renowned goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton and freetaking specialist Dean Rock are absent from the team which started last year's All-Ireland final win over Mayo, thereby securing a sixth successive Sam Maguire Cup. Rock is injured while Evan Comerford starts in goals instead of Cluxton.
Dublin manager Dessie Farrell will be serving a 12-week ban arising from a training session carried out in breach of Covid-19 regulations. Mick Galvin is set to patrol the sideline in Farrell's absence.
The match will be shown live on TG4 (throw-in 1.45pm).
Roscommon team v Dublin
1. Colm Lavin (Éire Óg)
2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
3. Feargal Lennon (Clann na nGael)
4. Gary Patterson (Michael Glavey's)
5. Conor Hussey (Michael Glavey's)
6. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
7. Brian Stack (St Brigid's)
8. Eddie Nolan (St Brigid's)
9. Shane Killoran (Elphin)
10. Niall Kilroy (Fuerty)
11. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels
12. Enda Smith (Boyle, captain)
13. Ciarain Murtagh (St Faithleach's)
14. Donie Smith (Boyle)
15. Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleach's).
Subs:
James Fetherstone (Roscommon Gaels)
David Neary (Strokestown)
Richard Hughes (Roscommon Gaels)
Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses)
Cian McKeon (Boyle)
Tadhg O'Rourke (Tulsk Lord Edwards)
Ciaran Lennon (Clann na nGael)
Conor Cox (Éire Óg)
Hubert Darcy (Padraig Pearses)
Conor Devaney (Kilbride)
Peter Gillooly (Roscommon Gaels).
Dublin team v Roscommon
1. Evan Comerford
2. Michael Fitzsimons
3. David Byrne
4. Jonny Cooper
5. Eoin Murchan
6. John Small
7. Robert McDaid
8. Brian Fenton
9. James McCarthy
10. Niall Scully
11. Ciaran Kilkenny
12. Sean Bugler
13. Paddy Small
14. Con O'Callaghan
15. Cormac Costello.