Killian O’Gara will lead the Dublin attack in what is a largely inexperienced side named to play Wicklow in tonight’s O’Byrne Cup opener in Baltinglass, 8pm.
None of the starting 15 were involved in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry – though Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Ross McGarry, Darragh Conlon and Brian O’Leary are among those who did feature at various stages during the 2022 season.
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Colm Basquel, who has also been involved in the past, is named at centre forward and the Ballyboden man will be hoping to make a more permanent breakthrough this year.
But it appears Jack McCaffrey’s eagerly awaited competitive return will have to wait a little longer as the former Footballer of the Year is not included in the squad of 26 released by Dublin this morning.
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O’Gara, younger brother of Eoghan, is named at full forward where he will be flanked by O’Leary and Lucan’s Mark Lavin.
Meanwhile, Tadhg Morley will captain Kerry in tonight’s McGrath Cup clash against Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn, 7pm.
Morley is one of three players from last year’s starting All-Ireland final team named in the 15 to face Cork – with Jason Foley and Diarmuid O’Connor also included by Jack O’Connor.
Killian and Adrian Spillane, who came off the bench during the All-Ireland final victory over Galway, will start tonight as well.
Jack O’Shea and Tony Brosnan, both among the subs last July, have been named at corner back and corner forward respectively to face the Rebels while Shane Murphy will start between the posts. The Kerry bench includes Jack Barry, Tom O’Sullivan, Dara Moynihan and Stefan Okunbor.
DUBLIN (O’Byrne Cup v Wicklow): Hugh O’Sullivan; Darragh Conlon, Dara Newcombe, Ben Millist; Adam Fearon, Greg McEneaney, CJ Smith; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Adam Waddick; Killian McGinnis, Colm Basquel, Ross McGarry; Mark Lavin, Killian O’Gara, Brian O’Leary.
KERRY (McGrath Cup v Cork): Shane Murphy; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Jack O’Shea; James McCarthy, Tadhg Morley, Cian Gammell; Diarmuid O’Connor, Barry O’Sullivan; Adrian Spillane, Ruairi Murphy, Barry O’Mahony; Tony Brosnan, Darragh Roche, Killian Spillane.
