Kerry lacking players with senior experience for Tralee clash with Cork

While it is a side lacking in any senior experience, there are still some familiar surnames in the Kerry side to play Cork in the Cadbury Munster U21FC quarter-final in Austin Stack Park tomorrow night (7.30pm).

Pádraig Ó Sé at centre-back is the son of the late Páidí while Adrian Spillane, who lines out at number 12, is Tom Spillane’s son. In addition, sub Niall Sheehy is a grandson of Niall Sheehy, an All-Ireland winner in 1959 and ’62.

With an agreement in place between U21 manager Darragh Ó Sé and his senior counterpart Eamonn Fitzmaurice, no member of the Kingdom side has played at senior before.

Ó Sé, goalkeeper Shane Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Shaun Keane and Kieran Murphy all played in the defeat to Cork at the same stage last year. Keane, Spillane, Jack McGuire and Thomas Hickey all won Sigerson Cup medals with UCC last month.

Cork named their side on Friday, but have two big injury worries. Cathal Vaughan, who is named at corner-forward, is rated doubtful and should he fail to be passe fit, then Alan Cadogan could take his place.

Wing-back Brian O’Driscoll, who featured in the Allianz Football League Division 1 wins over Kildare and Westmeath, is also struggling with a hamstring complaint.

The Mayo side to play Roscommon in the opening round of the Connacht championship (7.30pm, Elverys MacHale Park) features three of last year’s All-Ireland minor-winning side.

Stephen Coen is selected at centre-back by manager Niall Heffernan with Diarmuid O’Connor at midfield while Michael Plunkett plays centre-forward.

Aidan Butler, Adam Gallagher, James Shaughnessy and Conor O’Shea are all survivors from the side which lost to Galway last year.