One change for Juniors
Davy Nelson has made one change to the team that defeated Louth in the Leinster JFC semi-final for Sundays final against Kildare at Croke Park with St Vincent's Ryan Hand coming in for the injured Kieran Slavin.
Meath ( v Kildare) - Adam McDermott; Darren Gibney, Michael Flood, Ryan Hand; James Cassidy, Morgan Callaghan, Sean Reilly; Robin Clarke, Danny Quinn; Cathal McConnell, Frank O'Reilly, Jason Scully; Oran Meehan, Robbie Farrelly, Kevin Ross.
MATCH PREVIEW
It’s a competition that is often maligned, but for the players and management involved in next Sunday’s Leinster JFC final in Croke Park it will represent one of the biggest days of their life.
The opportunity to run out on the hallowed turf at GAA headquarters before a massive provincial final involving the five-in-a-row chasing Dubs and a resurgent Meath side is something only dreams are made of for many, but the players from Royal County and
Kildare can do just that -
again.
The same two counties met in last year’s decider with Meath failing to fire and losing out by two points, but now they have the opportunity to right those wrongs.
Picked from clubs that weren’t involved in the senior championships in their respective counties the Leinster JFC offers those who might have aspirations of playing at a higher level the opportunity to impress on the biggest stage of them all.
Both sides have players that have big game experience and for Kildare one player has a bigger profile than all others - Johnny Doyle.
The Allenwood forward retired from duty for the Lilywhites in April 2014 after 14 seasons. He won a Leinster SFC medal in his debut campaign in 2000 and a NFL Div 2 medal in 2012. He also was awarded All-Star in 2010 after a season where Kildare lost out at the All-Ireland semi-final stage against Down.
Now the 41-year-old has a Leinster final in Croke Park to look forward to with Kildare after he came on scored three points in his side’s 1-18 to 1-9 semi-final victory over Longford.
While Kildare are fortunate to call on a player of the calibre of Doyle, Meath will fancy their chances of toppling the Lillies with a strong attacking unit led by Castletown’s Kevin Ross who did have a run out with the seniors a couple of years ago.
Ross kicked five points in the 0-17 to 2-10 semi-final win over Louth, while Danny Quinn and Jason Scully are still involved with the Meath seniors as part of their extended training panel.
Frank O’Reilly is another key attacking option of manager Davy Nelson, while Michael Flood, who won a Sigerson Cup with UCC, and Sean Reilly, who has been involved with the seniors too, provide defensive stability to close down any forward threat Kildare might bring.
Manager Nelson is delighted to be back in Croke Park and he will be eager to make amends for losing out 2-15 to 2-17 to Kildare in last year’s final.
“It’s great to get back to Croke Park again, we felt we let it slip through our hands last year,” said Nelson obviously keen to secure Meath’s 18th Leinster JFC title, only a second in 13 years.