GAA:Kildare have named Dermot Earley in their team for the All-Ireland senior football semi-final, with the intention of giving the former All-Star 'every opportunity' of starting.
Kieran McGeeney has opted for continuity by naming the same team as that which originally lined out for the quarter-final victory over Meath but with Earley still recovering from a knee operation following his injury in the opening minutes of the quarter-final there may yet be changes to personnel before the throw-in.
“We want to give Dermot every opportunity to take his place. He is making progress all the time and we will give him a fitness test on the day,” said selector Niall Carew today.
The only other change to the Kildare line-up is positional and sees Johnny Doyle provisionally named in the half forward line with Eoin O’Flaherty switching into the corner forward position usually occupied by Doyle.
Kildare team (v Down):S McCormack; P Kelly, H McGrillan, A Mac Lochlainn; M O'Flaherty, E Bolton, B Flanagan; D Flynn, D Earley; J Kavanagh, P O'Neill, J Doyle; E O'Flaherty, A Smith, E Callaghan.