Kildare opt for O'Neill-Glavin midfield

Kildare manager John Crofton has named Kevin O'Neill and Ross Glavin as his midfield pairing for Sunday's Leinster SFC first round clash with Meath (Croke Park, throw-in 4pm).

O'Neill, who was positioned at full-back for the 2006 championship, and his Moorefield club-mate Glavin, who only recently made his first appearance of the season due to injury, will step into the breach at centre-field for the Lilywhites.

Midfield is an area where Kildare have suffered this season with Dermot Earley (broken metatarsal), Killian Brennan (ruptured Achilles tendon) and Ronan Sweeney (facial injury) all currently on the injury list.

Both Brennan and Tomas O'Connor (torn cruciate ligaments) are out for the rest of the season.

Glavin featured in a challenge match last week against Mayo and has been given the nod to partner O'Neill.

Crofton has listed perennial top scorer John Doyle, who captains the side, at full-forward, while defender Emmett Bolton and attackers Ken Donnelly and Michael Conway will each be making their first championship starts on Sunday.

Kildare last met Meath in the championship in 2003 when the Lilywhites progressed to the Leinster final, winning a tight semi-final by a single point.

Kildare have not won the Leinster title since 2000 and Sunday's winners will face the current champions Dublin in a June 3 quarter-final.

KILDARE (SFC v Meath) - E Murphy; E Callaghan, D Lyons, A McLoughlin; A Rainbow, M Hogarty, E Bolton; K O'Neill, R Glavin; J Kavanagh, P O'Neill, K Donnelly; T Fennin, J Doyle (capt), M Conway.