Wright man for the job as Kildare leave out Ryan

INSPIRATIONAL former captain Glen Ryan has been left out of the Kildare team for Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Leinster SFC quarter-final against Longford at Croke Park.

Ryan, who led the Lilywhites to the All-Ireland final when they lost to Galway, has been struggling to overcome a succession of injuries over the past three seasons.

Kildare will also be without star midfielder Dermot Earley, while Mick Wright comes in at centre-back for the deposed Ryan. Kieran Brennan and Alan Berry form a new midfield partnership in the absence of the injured Earley.