Son of Royals legend O’Rourke set for first start

SHANE O’ROURKE — son of legendary Meath star Colm — will make his first championship start for the Royal County at full forward in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Down.

O’Rourke is one of four changes to the side which lost out to Dublin after a replay. Seamus Kenny has recovered from a hamstring problem to reclaim his wing back spot from Stephen MacGabhann.

The other three changes are in attack with John Donegan, O’Rourke and Brian Farrell all starting. The players out are Cian Ward, Joe Sheridan and Graham Geraghty, the latter two no longer panellists.

Sligo have made two changes in attack from the side that defeated Roscommon for Sunday’s Connacht SFC final against Galway at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon.

Brendan Egan and John McPartland replace Philip Gallagher and Adrian Marren, while centre forward Mark Breheny moves to full forward.

Egan takes over at centre-half forward from Breheny, with McPartland coming in top of the left in place of Marren.

Galway have given a vote of confidence to the side that started their semi-final against Leitrim.

Meanwhile, Mayo manager John O’Mahony makes seven changes in the Mayo team for the All-Ireland qualifier against Cavan from the side humbled by Galway.

Those axed are Kenneth O’Malley, Enda Devenney, Keith Higgins, James Nallen, Pat Harte, Ger Brady and team captain Kevin O’Neill.

In comes David Clarke in goal; Aidan Higgins right corner back, Trevor Howley left corner back, David Kilcullen centre back, David Brady midfield, Pierce Hanley centre forward and Barry Moran full forward. Not one player in defence or midfield retains the position he started against the Tribesmen.

With up to six of his forwards doubtful for tomorrow night’s All-Ireland qualifier against Leitrim, Donegal manager Brian McIver may have to turn to former soccer star Shane Bradley.

The suspended Colm McFadden and injured duo Ciaran Bonner and Brian Roper are out while McIver rates the chances of Michael Hegarty, Brendan Devenney and Christy Toye as “no more than 50-50”.

That means former Finn Harps player Bradley is one of a number of recruits who could be started.

The absence of wing-back Barry Dunnion, recovering from a hernia operation, gives the Donegal management a further headache.

Cavan boss Donal Keoghan has made five changes to his side for the trip to Castlebar. Three are in defence where Dermot Sheridan, Keith Fannin and Martin Reilly fill full back, left full back and right half back.

The other two changes see Nicholas Walsh, who featured as a sub against Down, at midfield with Raymond Cullivan in at wing forward. Anthony Forde makes the switch from centre back to centre forward in place of the suspended Michael Lyng.

Sean Johnstone, Paul Brady and Martin Cahill will play football in Chicago for the summer.

Roscommon manager John Maughan has made the minimum of changes to his team for the qualifier against Kildare in Hyde Park. John Nolan comes in at centre back for David Casey in the only change from the side that lost out to Sligo in a Connacht semi-final last month.

Gary Dolan returns to the Westmeath team following an eye operation for their qualifier with Longford at Cusack Park tomorrow. Dolan is selected at full forward with big brother Dessie on his left.

Leitrim have made two changes from the side that lost to Galway in the Connacht semi final for their qualifier against Donegal.

Ciaran Kennedy replaces Barry Prior and Fintan McBrien replaces James Glancy (Glencar-Manorhamilton).

SLIGO (SF v Galway): P. Greene; C. Harrison, N. McGuire, R. Donovan; P. McGovern, N. McNamara, J. Davey; E. O’Hara, K. Quinn; B. Curran, B. Egan, S. Davey; D. Kelly, M. Breheny, J. McPartland.

GALWAY (SF v Sligo): P. Doherty; K. Fitzgerald, F. Hanley, D. Burke; M. Comer, D. Blake, D. Meehan; J. Bergin, N. Coleman; D. Savage, J. Fallon, N. Joyce; M. Meehan, P. Joyce, C. Bane.

MEATH (SF v Down): B Murphy, E Harrington, D Fay, N McKeigue, S Kenny, A Moyles, C King, M Ward, N Crawford, J Donegan, K Reilly, P Byrne, S Bray, S O’Rourke, B Farrell.

MAYO (SF v Cavan): D Clarke; A Higgins, L O’Malley, T Howley; P Gardiner (Capt), D Kilcullen, T Mortimer; D Heaney, D Brady; BJ Padden, P Hanley, A Dillon; C Mortimer, B Moran, A Moran.

CAVAN (SF v Mayo): J. Reilly; M. Hannon, D. Sheridan, K. Fannin; R. Flanagan, J. Crowe, M. Reilly; D. McCabe, N. Walsh; R. Cullivan, A. Forde, M. McKeever; J. O’Reilly, S. Brady, G. Pearson.

ROSCOMMON (SF v Kildare): G Claffey; S McDermott, A McDermott, P O’Connor; S Daly, D Casey, R Dooner; S O’Neill, M Finneran; J Tiernan, G Cox, C Gregg; D Connellan, K Mannion, G Heneghan.

KILDARE (SF v London): C Cunningham; T Finnerty, P Reidy, P Keegan; D Harney D Kennedy, R Hoban; C Buggy, B White; K Divilly, M Moloney, T Murphy; B Byrne, O Lynch, T Spain

LOUTH (SF v Limerick): S Reynolds; A Page, C Goss; M Fanning, J Neary, P Mc Ginnity, J O’Brien; P Keenan, M Farrelly; B White, A Hoey, M Stanfield; C Judge, S Lennon, D Clarke

WESTMEATH (SF v Longford): G. Connaughton; F. Boyle, D. Donoghue, J. Keane; D. Healy, M. Ennis, B. Glennon; P. Bannon, M. Flanagan; D. Gleenon, J. Smith, F. Wilson; A. Managan, G. Dolan, D. Dolan.

LEITRIM (SF v Donegal): J. Gill; D. Reynolds, M. McGuinness, B. McWeeney; C. Kennedy, J. McKeon, S. Foley; G. McCloskey, M. Duignan; C. Regan, M. Foley, D. Maxwell; D. Brennan, F. McBrien, C.Duignan.