Keelan Kelly, Shay McGuinness and Diarmuid O’Higgins celebrate with the trophy after Roscommon's win over Mayo in the recent Connacht U20 football final. Photo: Bernie O'Farrell.

Roscommon make one change for Kerry clash

Kieran Galvin

Published: Wed 13 May 2026, 11:49 AM

Last updated: Wed 13 May 2026, 5:10 PM

In this glorious period for Roscommon football, big matches keep on coming and the county's U20 team is preparing to face Kerry tonight (Wednesday) in their All-Ireland semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles (throw-in 7.30pm).

Roscommon manager Cian Smith has named his starting team with one change from the side which defeated Mayo in a thrilling Connacht final (5-16 to 2-22), where extra-time was needed to decide the outcome.

Colin Murray of St Ciarán's comes into the team in place of Conor Grogan as part of a half-back line containing Keelan Kelly (Pádraig Pearses) and team captain Eoghan Carthy.

The defence also includes Clann na nGael's Diarmuid O'Higgins, who was on the Marist College team which reached the Leinster Schools senior final earlier in the year.

Charlie O'Carroll of St Brigid's has been selected at full-forward, while the list of substitutes includes St Dominic's player Ruairí Kilcline, who scored two goals off the bench against Mayo. Rory Coyle of St Aidan's is also among the subs.

Meanwhile, Kerry manager Tomás Ó Sé has made two changes to his starting team for the clash against Roscommon. Mark O'Carroll (Dr Crokes) and Ronan Carroll (Austin Stacks) have been drafted into the team in place of Killian Dennehy and Máirtín McKivergan. Having starred in the Munster final, Dennehy has been ruled out of the game in what is a significant blow for the Munster champions.

The Kerry team includes Tomás Kennedy, who played in last Sunday's Munster senior final victory over Cork at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Kerry won the Munster U20 title with a 3-14 to 0-20 win over traditional rivals Cork, with their goals coming from Paddy Lane (two) and Gearóid White. Cork had defeated Kerry by a single point in the group stages, but the Kingdom overturned that result in the provincial decider.

The other All-Ireland semi-final tonight features Leinster champions Kildare (who eliminated Westmeath in a refixed provincial quarter-final) and Ulster kingpins Tyrone at Kingspan Breffni Park. Tyrone are aiming to win their third consecutive All-Ireland title at this level.

With TG4 showing the Munster U20 hurling final between Tipperary and Clare, the All-Ireland U20 football semi-finals will be shown on the TG4 Player.

Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland U20 football semi-finals

Wednesday, May 13 (both 7.30pm): Roscommon vs Kerry (FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles; Kildare vs Tyrone (Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan).

Roscommon team (vs Kerry): Patrick Gaynor; Diarmuid O'Higgins, Michael Gillooly, Nikita Berzins; Keelan Kelly, Eoghan Carthy (captain), Colin Murray; Niall Heneghan, Cathal Enright; Cathal McKeon, Dean Casey, Eoin Collins; John Curran, Charlie O'Carroll, John McGuinness. Subs: Mark Carroll, Conor Grogan, Rory Coyle, Kevin Hester, Ruairí Kilcline, Stephen Tighe, Liam Finneran, David Higgins, Declan Kennedy.

Kerry team (vs Roscommon): Kacper Robak; Michael Lynch, Gearóid Evans, Dara Stack; Eoin O'Flaherty, Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich, Pa Walsh; Evan Boyle, Daniel Kirby; Jack O'Sullivan, Gearóid White; Mark O'Carroll; Ronan Carroll, Tomás Kennedy, Paddy Lane. Subs: Barry Fitzsimons, Isaac Brosnan, Jack Joy, Seán Ó Cuinn, John Curtin, David Sargent, Máirtín McKivergan, Paudie Finucane, Dara Hogan, Ben Kelliher, Adan Byrne.