Injuries strike for Meath as Brennan makes three changes

Flynn and Kinsella not named on matchday panel for trip to Cork

There is mixed news on the injury front for Meath as Robbie Brennan has made three changes to his side from the Leinster SFC loss to Westmeath for Saturday's All-Ireland series clash with Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn, 5.30pm.

Mathew Costello returns to the starting 15 for the first time since round three of NFL Div 2 against Louth where he picked up a hamstring injury just before half-time, but Jack Flynn and Ruairi Kinsella are not included in the matchday 26 having picked up injuries in training.

Flynn and Kinsella are both named on the standby list that had to be submitted to Croke Park on Wednesday in the hope that an extra few days might give them a chance to recover from their knocks, so they both could still feature despite not being initially named on the 26.

One player who is named in the matchday panel is Ronan Jones who impressed in the recent challenge match win over Mayo. However, the St Peter's man picked up a knock in that game and might not be 100% for Saturday's trip to Cork.

In a rejigged team from the loss to Westmeath, Seamus Lavin is the other starter from that day to miss out with Donal Keogan named to wear the number two shirt and Adam O'Neill and Cathal Hickey returning to join Costello as the three changes.

Bryan Menton is listed to start at centre-back with Sean Coffey switching to wing back, while O'Neill will partner Cian McBride in midfield.

In attack Costello will start at corner-forward with Jordan Morris taking over at centre-forward, but those roles could be inter-changeable.

Aaron Lynch is preferred again to start in corner-forward with James Conlon held in reserve to make his usual significant impact off the bench.

James McEntee also returns to the matchday squad and is listed on the bench, as is St Patrick's exciting young attacker Jamie Murphy.

The other two players on the standby list as Jason Scully and Adam McDonnell.

Meath - Sean Brennan; Donal Keogan, Sean Rafferty, Brian O'Halloran; Sean Coffey, Bryan Menton, Ciaran Caulfield; Cian McBride, Adam O'Neill; Jack O'Connor, Jordan Morris, Cathal Hickey; Mathew Costello, Eoghan Frayne, Aaron Lynch. Subs - Billy Hogan, Ronan Ryan, Killian Smyth, Charlie O'Connor, Ronan Jones, Keith Curtis, James Conlon, Oisin Martin, James McEntee, Jamie Murphy, Seamus Lavin. Standby - Ruairi Kinsella, Jack Flynn, Jason Scully, Adam McDonnell.