London v Sligo: SLIGO OPEN their title defence after a poor NFL campaign and having lost captain Noel McGuire but recent challenge form, against Dublin and Wexford, has been better.

Eamonn O'Hara continues to spark in the middle and debutant Gary Gaughan has played well in the challenges.

London were sufficiently poor during the NFL to yield Kilkenny their only win of the NFL so the champions will be taking their title defence to the next stage, against Mayo.

LONDON: B McBrearty; R Morgan, C Beirne, G O'Hare; P Morgan, E Ó Cuiv, N Spain; K Waldron, G Kane; F Cleary, P Hehir, F McMahon; S Maguire, M Hughes, P McDermott.

SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison, P Naughton, R Donovan; P McGovern, M McNamara, J Davey; K Quinn, E O'Hara; B Curran, M Breheny, B Egan; G Gaughan, J McPartland, D Kelly.

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).