McGeeney to run rule over fringe men

Kildare have opted to field a largely experimental line-up with nine players making their first starts for tonight’s Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup final against DCU in Portlaoise.

The champions boast some experience in their side, with All Star Mick Foley included along with five other players that have played senior championship football.

Eamonn Callaghan will captain them from centre-forward in the absence of Johnny Doyle, who will be on duty with Leinster on Sunday, as will Emmet Bolton and Mikey Conway.

Hugh McGrillen, Karl Ennis, Alan Smith and Ken Donnelly complete the representation from the front-line panel. The rest of the team is made up of members of the junior squad, or back-up players on the senior panel.

Paddy Dunne was one of the stars of Athy’s county championship success last year and he forms a brand-new midfield partnership with Conor Feeney.

Smith and Donnelly are joined in the full-forward line by the tricky Dessie Lawler, who like Dunne, was given some game time in the earlier rounds of this competition.

Kildare (v DCU, O’Byrne Cup final, 7.30pm): R Eyres; S Bergin, H McGrillen, D Barker; K Murnaghan, M Foley, K Ennis; C Feeney, P Dunne; C McDonnell, E Callaghan, T McCann; A Smith, K Donnelly, D Lawler