Youngsters get chance as O’Connor shuffles Kerry pack

KERRY boss Jack O’Connor has named only seven of the team defeated by Dublin in last September’s All-Ireland final for Saturday’s rematch in the opening round of the Allianz Football League Division 1 in Croke Park.

Club commitments and injures have deprived the Kerry boss of several first-choice players with youngsters like Peter Crowley and Brian Maguire in defence and James O’Donoghue and Barry John Keane in attack, all offered starting berths.

The team, captained by Kieran Donaghy in the absence of Colm Cooper, who is unavailable due to Dr Crokes All-Ireland Club SFC involvement, features Paul Galvin at wing-forward, while on the opposite flank of the attack, Sean O’Sullivan returns to the fold after a two-year absence.