Fitzpatrick in as Rogers loses battle

AMBROSE Rogers bid to prove his fitness for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Kildare in Croke Park has failed after Peter Fitzpatrick was last night named at midfield by manager James McCartan.

The switch is the only change to the Down team from the side that defeated Kerry at the quarter-final stage earlier this month. Rogers is listed among the subs after he sustained damage to his knee in a recent match for his club Longstone.

Fitzpatrick has championship experience this season and was introduced as a sub against Kerry, scoring a point. The inclusion of the Ballymartin man, who last year starred as the Down U21s reach the All-Ireland final, sees McCartan resist the temptation to shift Dan Gordon from full-back to the middle of the pitch. Attackers Conor Maginn and Ronan Murtagh have to be satisfied with places on the bench once more.