All-Ireland champions Dublin make six changes to the team that edged past Monaghan last week for Saturday evening’s Division One match against Cork in Croke Park. All Star Bernard Brogan returns for his first start of the year after kicking the winning point off the bench last week.
Captain Stephen Cluxton is omitted and St Vincent’s goalkeeper Michael Savage gets a run. Rookie of the year in the 2015 championship, All Star Brian Fenton is give his first action of the current season after recovering from injury.
Michael Fitzsimons, who has covered for the soon to be departed Rory O’Carroll at full back isn’t named for this match with Johnny Cooper given the number three jersey. John Small also drops from the starting line-up with Eric Lowndes getting the call-up.
Otherwise Denis Bastick, Tomás Brady and Dean Rock are also left out in favour of Fenton, Ciarán Kilkenny and Brogan.
Opponents Cork make a relatively restrained four changes after their annihilation by Roscommon a week ago. Goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran is replaced by Micheál Martin, who is son of the Fianna Fáil leader whereas Mark Collins, Michael Shields and Andrew O’Sullivan make way for Seán Kiely, Jamie O’Sullivan and Kevin O’Driscoll.
There are three changes in the Kerry football team to face Donegal. Brian Kelly is named in goal instead of All Star Brendan Kealy as Eamonn Fitzmaurice maintains his rotating selection policy. Another former All Star Peter Crowley starts in place of Pádraig O’Connor and St Mary’s Denis Daly comes in for his league debut and replaces his club mate Aidan Walsh.
All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny make five changes to the side that came late to beat Tipperary a fortnight ago. Into the side for the visit of Galway come Richie Reid for injured goalkeeper Eoin Murphy, former captain Jackie Tyrrell for his first match since last year’s Leinster final against the same opponents instead of Paul Murphy and Kieran Joyce displaces Robert Lennon.
All Star Cillian Buckley returns in pace of Diarmuid Cody and up front Richie Hogan, who was a late withdrawal the last day resumes in place of John Power.
DUBLIN (AFL v Cork): Michael Savage; Philip McMahon, Johnny Cooper, David Byrne; James McCarthy, Cian O'Sullivan, Eric Lowndes; Brian Fenton, Emmet Ó Conghaile; Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly, Ciarán Kilkenny; Cormac Costello, Paddy Andrews, Bernard Brogan.
CORK (AFL): Micheál Martin; Colm O'Driscoll, Eoin Cadogan, James Loughrey; Tom Clancy, Jamie O'Sullivan, Brian O'Driscoll; Kevin O'Driscoll, Ian Maguire; Seán Kiely, Paul Kerrigan, Luke Connolly; Daniel Goulding, Peter Kelleher, Brian Hurley.
DUBLIN (AHL v Cork): Conor Dooley; Eoghan O'Donnell, Cian O'Callaghan, Oisin Gough; Chris Crummy, Liam Rushe, John McCaffrey; Darragh O'Connell, Daire Plunkett; Sean McGrath, Niall McMorrow, Eamon Dillon; David O'Callaghan, David Treacy, Mark Schutte.
KILKENNY (AHL v Galway): Richie Reid; Shane Prendergast, Joey Holden, Jackie Tyrrell; Padraig Walsh, Kieran Joyce, Cillian Buckley; Lester Ryan, Conor Fogarty; Colin Fennelly, TJ Reid, James Maher; Walter Walsh, Kevin Kelly, Richie Hogan. Subs: Alan Murphy, Paul Murphy, Robert Lennon, Diarmuid Cody, Brian Kennedy, Conor O'Shea, Conor Martin, Jonjo Farrell, John Power, Michael Malone.
TIPPERARY (AHL v Waterford): Darren Gleeson; Cathal Barrett, Tomás Hamill, Michael Cahill; Barry Heffernan, Ronan Maher, Pádraic Maher; Brendan Maher (capt.), Michael Breen; Noel McGrath, Dan McCormack, Patrick Maher; John O'Dwyer, Séamus Callanan, John McGrath. Subs: Darragh Mooney, Kieran Bergin, Andrew Coffey, Conor Kenny, Liam McGrath Conor O'Brien, Niall O'Meara, Daire Quinn, Adrian Ryan, Liam Ryan, Willie Ryan.
KERRY (AFL v Donegal): Brian Kelly; Marc Ó Sé, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright; Peter Crowley, Aidan O'Mahony, Fionn Fitzgerald; Kieran Donaghy, Bryan Sheehan; Denis Daly, Paul Murphy, Donnchadh Walsh; Darran O'Sullivan, Alan Fitzgerald, Stephen O'Brien.
MAYO (AFL v Monaghan): Robbie Hennelly; Brendan Harrison, Ger Cafferkey, Chris Barrett; Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Shane Nally; Tom Parsons, Jason Gibbons; Diarmuid O'Connor, Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin, Evan Regan, Jason Doherty, Conor O'Shea.
