SPORT NEWS

Weekend AFL team news

by Michelle Fortune , 02 February 2012

Pat Gilroy has named eight of the team that started last September's All-Ireland SFC final victory over Kerry for Saturday's rematch in Division One of the Allianz Football League.


The Brogan brothers of Alan and Bernard are missing as are Cian O'Sullivan, Kevin Nolan, Denis Bastick, Paul Flynn and Bary Cahill.

Gilroy has handed a senior starting debut to Craig Dias with the Kilmacud Crokes clubman set to start at left-half back alongside James McCarthy and Ger Brennan.

Stephen Cluxton, who kicked the winning point at Croke Park last September, takes is place in goal behind the full-back line of Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O'Carroll and Philly McMahan.

Ross McConnell and Michael Dara Macauley start in the middle of the field with Paul Brogan named in the half-forward line, while up front Eoghan O'Gara is flanked by Diarmuid Connolly and Tomas Quinn.

Dublin (SF v Kerry): S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; J McCarthy, G Brennan, C Dias; R MConnell, M D Macauley; P Brogan, K McManamon, B Cullen; D Connolly, E O'Gara, T Quinn.

Kerry have named seven of the players that started last with club commitments and injuries preventing Jack O'Connor from naming his strongest side.

Youngsters Peter Crowley and Brian Maguire will start in defence with James O'Donoghue and Barry John Keane named up front.

Captain Colm Cooper is on lcub duty with Dr Crokes with the honour of skippering the side going to Kieran Donaghy, while Paul Galvin takes his place at wing-forward.

Sean O'Sullivan makes his return after a two-year absence.

Kerry (SF v Dublin): B Kealy: S Enright; M O Se, P Crowley; T O Se, K Young, B Maguire; S Scanlon, B Sheehan; P Galvin, D O’Sullivan, S O’Sullivan; J O’Donoghue, K Donaghy (capt), BJ Keane.

Kerry's clash with Dublin is LIVE on Setanta Ireland

Conor Counihan has named a strong Cork side for the Division One tie against Armagh.

The reigning Allianz Football League champions won the McGrath Cup last week but Counihan has decided to make changes with Noel O'Leary, Eoin Cadogan, Graham Canty, Alan O'Connor, Patrick Kelly, Colm O'Neill and Donncha O'Connor all returning to the starting line-up.

Cork (SF v Armagh) - K O' Halloran; R Carey, M Shields, E Cadogan; N O'Leary, G Canty, P Kissane; A O Connor, P O Neill; F Goold, P Kelly, C O'Driscoll; C O' Neill, D O'Connor, P Kerrigan   

Kieran McGeeney has kept faith with the Kildare side that started the O'Byrne Cup semi-final win over Dublin two weeks ago for Saturday's Allianz Football League Division Two showdown with Tyrone.

McGeeney's decision to stick with the same team means that Hugh McGrillen and Rob Kelly have to start from the bench once again.

Kildare (SF v Tyrone): S Connolly; P Kelly, C Fitzpatrick, O Lyons; B Flanagan, T O'Neill, E O'Flaherty; D Flynn, R Sweeney; T Moolick, M Conway, P O'Neill; J Kavanagh, T O'Connor, A Smith.

Mickey Harte, meanwhile, has made two changes to the side that started the Dr McKenna Cup final with Joe McMahon taking over in midfield.

Pascal McConnell steps in for John Devine in goal, while Ryan McMenamin is named on the bench for the first time this season.

Tyrone (SF v Kildare) - P McConnell; A McCrory, Jus McMahon, Quinn, C McCarron, P Harte, D Carlin, M Murphy, Joe McMahon, M Donnelly, P Hughes, M Penrose, O Mulligan, M Donnelly, S O'Neill.

New Galway manager has named four debutants in his team for the Allianz Football League match against Derry on Sunday.

Manus Breathnach will take his place in goal with Keith Kelly starting at left-corner back. Mark Hehir and Michael Martin have been named at left half forward and right corner forward respectively.

Full-back Finian Hanley has been named as the Galway skipper for the 2012 season, while Thomas Flynn will partner Fionntain O Curraoin in the centre of the field.

"Of course, Derry are a very strong side and they were really putting it up to Tyrone in the McKenna Cup final until one of their midfielders was sent off. They are a powerful side with big ambitions," Mulholland admitted to the Connacht Tribune.

"We are going north with a very young team but I'm hoping that with Derry going into the game as red-hot favourites, the pressure will be off our lads.

"This is a big step-up, but also a very big chance for our lads, and I just want them to go out in a very positive frame of mind and give this game a real go."

Galway (SF v Derry): M Breathnach; C Forde, F Hanley, K Kelly; G Bradshaw, J Duane, G O'Donnell; T Flynn, F O Curraoin; J Ryan, P Conroy, M Hehir; M Martin, C Bane, D Cummins.

Brian Hanamy has been named in the Offaly team for Sunday's Allianz Football League Division Three opener against Longford at Pearse Park.

The Kilmacud Crokes' player qualifies for Offaly under the parentage rule and he has been named in midfield where he will partner Niall Smith.

Manager Gerry Cooney has a number of injury concerns at the moment with Richie Dalton, Ross Brady and David Hanlon all out with knocks and as a resulted last year's goalkeeper Alan Mulhall will start at full-forward alongside Bernard Allen and Nigel Dunne.

Shane and Anton Sullivan take their place at centre-back and left-back forward, while Brian Darby will skipper the team.

Offaly (SF v Longford): K Meehan; J Gallagher, P McConway, S Pender; B Darby, S Sullivan, L Hiney; B Hanamy, N Smith; A Keenaghan, D Currams, A Sullivan; B Allen, A Mulhall, N Dunne.

New Fermanagh boss Peter Canavan is refusing to underestimate London ahead of their clash this weekend.

"London beat Fermanagh last year in the championship and should have beaten Mayo as well," he said in the Fermanagh Herald.

"They are the best they have been in a long time and have a manager who has got the best out of them. As well as that, they have taken part in the FBD League as a warm-up to the league so anybody who travels to London will have to earn their corn."

Fermanagh (SF v London): R Gallagher; N Bogue, B Owens, J Woods; C Quigley, R McCluskey, B Mulrone; E Donnelly, J Sherry; D Keenan, B Og Maguire, T Corrigan; P Ward, S Quigley, Sean Quigley. 

Antrim (SF v Sligo): Chris Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Deaghlan O'Hagan, Mark McAleese, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, James Loughrey, Conor Murray, Conal Kelly, Tomas McCann, Kevin Brady, Michael Armstrong, Brian Neeson, Mark Sweeney, Paddy Cunnigham.


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