Gilroy names team to face Kerry

GAA: Pat Gilroy has named his Dublin side to take on Kerry in their opening fixture of the NFL Division One campaign in Killarney…

GAA:Pat Gilroy has named his Dublin side to take on Kerry in their opening fixture of the NFL Division One campaign in Killarney on Sunday (2.30pm).

Through a combination of injuries and the manager’s desire to freshen things up there are only five players named who started last season’s quarter-final demolition at the hands of the same opposition.

Predictably goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton is named, while Ross O’Carroll is directly in front of him, Paul Griffin captains the side from right halfback, Ross McConnell is joined in midfield by Eamon Fennell and David Henry moves to corner forward.

Gilroy has been denied the services of Alan Brogan and Denis Bastick, who are both recovering from operations and are due back later this month or in March.

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Barry Cahill, Ger Brennan and Conal Keaney have minor hamstring strains and are due to train next week, as are Pat Burke and Darren Magee.

Darren Daly and Derek Murray are awaiting the results of MRI scans after suffering leg injuries in recent games.

Tomás Quinn is still on crutches after fracturing his metatarsal and faces another four to six weeks of rehab.

DUBLIN (SF v Kerry):Stephen Cluxton; Ross O'Carroll, Rory O'Carroll, Philly McMahon; Paul Griffin (Capt), Cian O'Sullivan, James McCarthy; Eamon Fennell, Ross McConnell; Alan Hubbard Michael Darragh MacAuley, Paul Flynn; David Henry, Blaine Kelly, Kevin McManamon

Subs: Michael Savage, Paul Conlon, Conor McCormack, Paul Casey, Bryan Cullen, Denis Carrigan, Tiernan Diamond, James Brogan, Bernard Brogan, Dean Kelly, Kevin Bonner, Brendan McManamon