Four league debutants for Meath

Meath manager Andy McEntee will hand first league starts to four players when the Royals welcome Tipperary to Pairc Tailteann for the NFL Div 2 opener on Sunday, 2pm.
Summerhill's Ronan Ryan, Simonstown's Niall Kane, Na Fianna's Ethan Devine and Skryne's Darragh Campion all impressed sufficiently to secure their place in the starting line up for the game against Tipperary.
Andrew Colgan returns to between the posts after missing the last couple of O'Byrne Cup games because of exams, while Bryan Menton will captain the team from midfield.
Meath Footballer of the Year Mickey Burke will line out at wing-forward with Graham Reilly, Sean Tobin and Cillian O'Sullivan held in reserve on the bench.

The Meath team for Sunday's NFL Div 2 clash with Tipperary is - Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Níall Kane; Bryan Menton, Adam Flanagan; Ethan Devine, Ben Brennan, Micheal Burke; Darragh Campion, Michael Newman, Thomas O’Reilly. Subs - Barry Dardis, Cillian O'Sullivan, Gavin McCoy, Shane McEntee, Graham Reilly, Eoin Lynch, Seán Tobin, Niall Hickey, James Conlon, Bryan McMahon, Danny Quinn.

PREVIEW
Since returning to NFL Div 2 after spending 2013 mired in Div 3 Meath have gone close on three occasions to securing promotion to the top table, but last year they flirted with relegation again, so what is it to be this time around?
In 2014 Mick O'Dowd's side finished third and missed out on promotion by two points, in 2015 the head-to-head result with Roscommon, when they lost in a round three refixture in Dr Hyde Park, proved telling as Roscommon claimed second spot despite an inferior scoring difference.
After going so close the year before, 2016 was a disappointment as Meath were embroiled in a relegation struggle and managed to avoid the drop because of their superior scoring difference.
Fast-forward to 2017 and it was another case of 'so near, yet so far'. For the third year out of four Meath finished third in Div 2, this time missing out on promotion by a point. If Kildare had beaten Galway in their final game (they only lost by a point) Meath would have been up, but that is a typical tale of woe.
Last year was another dance with relegation despite a promising start, but wins over Down and Louth late on saved Meath's bacon.
So what of 2019 for Andy McEntee's Royals?
It is doubtful if Div 2 has every looked more competitive. Every game is going to be tough and a repeat of the inconsistencies shown last year will almost certainly guarantee another relegation struggle for Meath.
However, if the Royals can replicate the performance they produced when only losing by a point after extra-time in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers last summer then that elusive promotion is very much on the cards.
Consistency has consistently been the problem for Meath.
There is no denying Meath have been unlucky in recent years, but it is time to forget about those tales of woe. It is time to set priorities straight and it is definitely about time Meath were playing their league football in Div 1.
In the various guises and restructures Meath did make a few appearances in Div 1B, but the last time they featured in a Div 1 final was when losing to Derry after a replay in 2000 and the last time Meath won NFL Div 1 was way back in 1994.
The Royals are a long way off being considered Div 1 champions again, but they have to start moving in the right direction soon.
After the All-Ireland SFC qualifier loss to Tyrone there was a buzz around the county that maybe, just maybe, this team is capable of something special.
The disappointment of the Leinster SFC loss to Longford was swept aside and new optimism has emerged.
That new found hope, along with the addition of Colm Nally and Gary Rogers to the coaching structure and the introduction of several new players to the panel should give Meath a bounce heading into the new league campaign.
There is a sense of 'starting again' this year. Much rests on the shoulders of Bryan Menton, Donal Keogan, Graham Reilly, Mickey Burke and Mickey Newman as Meath's most experienced campaigners.
If Meath are to find a level of consistency then that quintet will have to be the leaders, they have to be the players to bring the younger panel members up to speed as to what is needed to not only survive, but thrive at this level.
With the talent Meath have at their disposal every game is winnable, but because of the inconsistency shown over the last few years and with the introduction of so many new players they will also have to be wary of every opponent.
Travelling to take on Donegal and Cork are the two toughest trips imaginable and taking on Clare, the recently crowned McGrath Cup champions, in Ennis will be no push over either.
To be in with a chance of promotion Meath will have to win their home games - again, easier said than done.
Tipperary will visit Navan next Sunday and they humbled McEntee's men in Thurles last year, so nothing can be taken for granted there.
After the trip to Ballybofey, Meath will welcome Armagh to Pairc Tailteann and it doesn't get any easier for the Royals as Kildare will be the next to visit Navan before the campaign ends with a home game against Fermanagh.
Because it is such a competitive group nine points might be enough to earn a place in Div 1.
Donegal should be hot favourites to win every game, so that leaves one spot and on their day Meath are more than capable of claiming that place. five wins should do it.