Kerry gamble on O Sé’s fitness against Roscommon
The inspirational Gaeltacht midfielder passed a fitness test in Killarney last night and satisfied the selectors that he is ready to resume at centre-field after a month sidelined with an ankle injury.
He is the only change from the side which defeated Limerick in the Munster SFC final, with Seamus Scanlon losing out to Eoin Brosnan as O Sé’s midfield partner.
The selection of O Sé represents something of gamble for the Kerry management, though he did play in a trial game this week in Killarney. However, his last competitive game for the Kingdom was their Munster Championship victory in Tralee over Tipperary on June 15.
Kilcummin’s Tommy Brosnan has been drafted into the Kerry panel for Monday’s encounter.
As expected, Laois have drafted in Paul McDonald at wing back for the suspended Kevin Fitzpatrick ahead of tomorrow’s glamour quarter-final against champions Armagh at Croke Park.
Mick O’Dwyer and his two selectors have resisted the temptation to tinker with the victorious Leinster final team, which means no place for Colm Parkinson in attack. Damien Delaney retains his corner forward spot.
The Mayo minor selectors have made four changes to their team to face Kerry today in Ennis in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Mayo have to do without captain and full back Keith Higgins who is suffering from glandular fever and will only play again this season should Mayo reach the final on the last Sunday in September. John Conlon replaces him in the full-back line with Trevor Howley moving to full back.
The other three changes see Henry McLoughlin coming in at midfield, Eamon Tiernan coming in at right half forward and Shane Prendergast coming in at right corner forward. There are several positional changes to the team also with only three Mayo players in the same position as the Connacht final
KERRY (SF v Roscommon): D. O’Keeffe, T. O’Sullivan, S. Moynihan, M. McCarthy; T O Sé, E. Fitzmaurice, M. O Sé; D. O Sé, E. Brosnan; S. O’Sullivan, D. O Cinnéide, L. Hassett; M.F. Russell, D. O’Sullivan, C. Cooper.
Subs: D. Murphy, S. Scanlon, J. Sheehan, J. Crowley, A. McGearailt, D. Quill, M. Quirke, P. Galvin, A. O'Mahony, J. Cahalane, P. Kennedy, D. Daly, T. Brosnan.
LAOIS (SF v Armagh): F. Byron, A. Fennelly, C. Byrne, J. Higgins; D. Rooney, T. Kelly, P. McDonald, P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, M. Lawlor, G. Kavanagh; B. McDonald, I. Fitzgerald, D. Delaney.
MAYO (MF v Kerry): R. Byrne; D. Padden, T. Howley, J. Conlon; K. Costello, D. Sloyne, S. Ryder; S. O’Donnell, H. McLoughlin; E. Tiernan, A. Kilcoyne, M. Conroy; S. Prendergast, J. G. Stenson, M. Ronaldson.
