2 days ago
Kerry make five changes to team to face Meath in final All-Ireland SFC Group 2 game
It was well known that Paudie Clifford, Paul Geaney, Barry Dan O'Sullivan and Diarmuid O'Connor would not be available for this game, with all four receiving treatment for specific injuries, and none of that quartet are included in the match day squad to face the Royal county in O'Connor Park.
Clifford, Geaney and O'Sullivan all started the game against Cork but none of them played into the second half, while O'Connor wasn't part of the squad in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, with a groin injury given as the reason for his absence.
There are two other changes for Saturday's encounter with Meath, with Dylan Casey and Brian Ó Beaglaoich not retaining their starting places in defence, and they are replaced by Paul Murphy and Tadhg Morley respectively.
Casey is named among the substitutes, which suggests his dropping to the bench is tactical, but Ó Beaglaoich is not on the named squad, which could indicate an injury issue.
Dara Moynihan is also named on the match day squad for the first time this year. The Spa club man hasn't played with Kerry since last year's All-Ireland semi-final loss to Armagh, having spent the best part of the last year rehabbing a serious injury.
As expected, Mark O'Shea comes into at midfield for Barry Dan O'Sullivan, whose knee injury is a serious one, and threatening to end his involvement for the result of the season. Killian Spillane and Dylan Geaney are also handed starts in place of Paudie Clifford and Paul Geaney, with some positional shuffling in the forward unit.
Micheal Burns moves back out to the half forward line alongside Graham O'Sullivan and Sean O'Shea, who takes the no.11 jersey. Spillane is named at full forward, in a direct switch for Paul Geaney, whom he replaced at half time against Cork.
Dylan Geaney is recalled to the starting 15 in place, and will start in one corner, with David Clifford in the other.
A win or a draw for Kerry will secure top spot in Group 2 and send the Kingdom straight to the All-Ireland quarter-finals a fortnight later. A win for Meath would see them finish top of the group and consign Kerry to a preliminary quarter-final with home advantage as second place finishers.
Kerry team team play Meath
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1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
4. Tom O'Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
6. Mike Breen (Beaufort)
7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
8. Joe O'Connor (Austin Stacks)
9. Mark O'Shea (Dr Crokes)
10. Graham O'Sullivan (Dromind Pearses)
11. Seán O'Shea (Kenmare)
12. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
13. David Clifford (Fossa)
14. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle)
Substitutes
Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes), Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks), Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes), Conor Geaney (Dingle), Evan Looney (Dr Crokes), Seán O'Brien (Beaufort), Tom Leo O;'Sullivan (Dingle), Darragh Lyne (Legion), Cillian Trant (St Senans), Ruairí Murphy (Listry), Damien Bourke (Na Gaeil), Dara Moynihan (Spa)
