Roscommon select team for crunch clash against Leitrim

The Roscommon team for this evening's Connacht U-20 football championship clash with Leitrim shows one change from last week's draw against Galway.

The crunch game against Leitrim in Ballinamore (Sean O'Heslin's GAA, throw-in 6.30pm) will decide if Roscommon make it to the knockout stages.

Kilbride's Ryan Dowling has been handed a starting berth, having have been introduced as a substitute in the low scoring clash with the Tribesmen which finished 0-6 apiece (see report in this week's Westmeath Independent).

Remarkably, Roscommon have drawn all three of their matches so far - against Mayo, Sligo and Galway.

Captained by Bobby Nugent of St Brigid's, the Roscommon starting team for the Leitrim game includes Pádraig Pearses duo Conor Ryan and Adam McGreal, with another Pearses player, Conor Harley, among the subs (see panel below). The subs list also includes Clann na nGael's Oisín O’Flaherty, who has made a positive impact off the bench in previous outings.

The team which finishes top of the table will go straight into the Connacht final, while the second and third placed teams will meet in one semi-final.

Having played all four of their games in the round robin series, Galway are the only team guaranteed a place in the top three ahead of the last round, which also includes Mayo's clash with defending Connacht champions Sligo in Castlebar (6.30pm).

Noel Dunning's Roscommon side need to avoid defeat against Leitrim in order to claim a top three place.

At present, Galway are on top with five points; Roscommon, Mayo and Leitrim are level on three points; and Sligo are bottom on two points.

If two teams finish level on points, the result between those teams will decide who finishes higher. In the case of a draw between the teams, scoring difference will apply.

If three teams finish on the same number of points, the results between those three teams will be the first criterion to decide placings, rather than overall scoring difference.

Roscommon (vs Leitrim): 1. Sean Allen; 2. Eden Kerins, 3. Daniel Casey, 4. Daniel Hagney; 5. James McGreal, 6. Senan Lambe, 7. Eoghan Carthy; 8. Conor Ryan, 9. Shane Walsh; 10. Bobby Nugent (captain), 11. Robert Heneghan, 12. Rory Hester; 13. Shane McGinley, 14. Adam McGreal, 15. Ryan Dowling. Subs: Conor Morris, Cillian Campbell, Ethan O’Reilly, Conor Harley, James Connolly, Oisín O’Flaherty, Niall O’Donnell, Rory Carthy, Ryan Conlon.