Laois to blood duo for Galway clash

LAOIS will parade new goalkeeper Chris Gorman for their Allianz NFL first-round clash with Galway at Pearse Stadium tomorrow.

Also earning his first team spurs will be midfielder Kevin Meaney.

Derry, who play Mayo in their opener at Celtic Park on Saturday, will also have a new goalkeeper on show. John Deighon has been handed the number one shirt by manager Paddy Grozier, who also introduces Ryan Dillon at right corner back and Michael McBride at centre back.

Kildare are sweating on the availability of three players ahead of tomorrow night’s floodlit Division 1 NFL opener against Tyrone at Healy Park, Omagh.

Andriú Mac Lochlainn has been named at full-back, despite tweaking a hamstring in training on Monday night, while ‘flu victims Michael Conway and Dermot Earley man the central attacking positions.

Selector Niall Carew believes that the Lilywhites are ready to give a good account of themselves. “If we have a clean bill of health going in, we would have to be quietly confident.”

Meanwhile, management has named its training panel for the league, with Tommie Archbold and Ian Lonergan the two highest-profile casualties. Both players have championship experience but Archbold has been dogged by injuries for the past four years and is currently struggling with chronic hamstring problems, while Lonergan had only joined the panel with the rest of the Moorefield contingent in the past fortnight.

Left corner back Kieran McDonald, right half back Chris Alyward, right corner forward Eoin Kearney and full forward Seamus Grogan will make their senior league debuts for Tipperary who take on Kilkenny at Nowlan Park on Sunday. It will be Kilkenny’s first time participating in the competition since 1999.

Offaly introduce three newcomers for their opening Division 4 game against London at Tullamore on Sunday. Brian Darby is named at left corner back, Richard Fox takes over the centre-half back berth while Niall Kelly is named on the right flank of attack.

Westmeath give call ups to Paul Bannon at left corner forward for their league opener with Dublin under lights at Parnell Park on Saturday.

Kevin Byrne will make his league debut at midfield for Sligo who take on Down at Newry under lights on Saturday, while corner forward Eamonn Cawley returns after a six-year absence.

Leitrim will not name their team to Fermanagh at Carrick-on-Suir until just before the start.

KILDARE (SF v Tyrone): T. Corley; E. Bolton, A. Mac Lochlainn, M. O’Flaherty; A. Rainbow, K. O’Neill, G. White; P. Mullarkey, K. Brennan; J. Doyle, M. Conway, J. Kavanagh; R. Sweeney, D. Earley, K. Donnelly.

OFFALY (SF v London): P. Kelly; G. Rafferty, S. Brady, B. Darby; P. McConway, R. Fox, J. Keane; A. McNamee, C. McManus; N. Kelly, P. Kellaghan, N. Smith; T. Behan, J. Reynolds, N. McNamee.

WESTMEATH (SF v Dublin): D. Connaughton; F. Boyle, K. Gavin, J. Keaney; M. Ennis, D. Heavin, D. Healy; M. Flanagan, D. Duffy; F. Wilson, A. Clinton, D. Bannon; M. Green, D. Dolan, F. Bannon.

MONAGHAN (SF v Roscommon):P. McBennett; D. Mone, J.P. Mone, C. Flanagan; D. McArdle, G. McQuaid, P. McGuigan; Dick Clerkin, P. Finlay; C. McManus, R. Woods, R. Ronaghan; C. Hanratty, V. Corey, T. Freeman.

ANTRIM (SF Wicklow): S. McGreevy; T. Scullion, P. Doherty, A. McClean; P. Close, S. Kelly, J. Crozier; J. Owens, K. McGourty; A. Gallagher, M. McCann, T. O’Neill; M. Pollock, K. Niblock, J. Loughrey.

SLIGO (SF v Down): P. Green; C. Harrison, R. Maguire, R. Donovan; J. Davey, M. McNamara, P. McGovern; K. Byrne, K. Quinn; M. Brehoney, E. O’Hara, B. Curran; E. Cawley, K. Sweeney, D. Kelly.

TIPPERARY (SF v Kilkenny): P. Fitzgerald, N. Curran, K. McDonald; C. Aylward, N. Fitzgerald, R. Costigan; K. Mulryan, E. Hanrahan; P. Austin, C. Morrissey, D. O’Brien; E. Kearney, S. Grogan, B. Grogan.

LAOIS (SF v Galway): C. Gorman; A. Fennelly, C. Ryan, R. Stapleton; P. O’Leary, D. Rooney, P. McMahon; P. Clancy, K. Meaney; B. McCormack, M. J. Tierney, R. Munnelly; D. Brennan, B. Quigley, C. Patterson.

DERRY (SF v Mayo): J. Deighon; R. Dillon, K. McCloy, K. McGuckin; L. Himphey, M. McBride, J. Keenan; F. Doherty, J. Convey; M. Lynch, B. McGoldrick, E. Muldoon; C. Devlin, P. Bradly, C. Mullen.

MAYO (SF v Derry): D. Clarke; C. Moran, B. J. Padden, L. O’Malley; C. Barrett; T. Howley, K. Higgins; S. O’Shea, P. Gardiner; J. Gill, A. Dillon, M. Mullins; C. Mortimer, A. O’Malley, A. Moran.

FERMANAGH: (SF v Leitrim) R. Gallagher; S. Goan, P. Mohan, N Bogue; D. Kelly, S. McDermott, P. Sherry; M. McGrath, J. Sherry; C. McElroy, S. Doherty, M. Murphy; P. Cadden, L. McBarron, E. Maguire.