Galway include four Championship newcomers

Galway will start with four championship newcomers in their side when they meet Roscommon in Sunday's Connacht SFC quarter-final at Pearse Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

Gareth Bradshaw, midfielder Mark Lydon and forward duo Damien Dunleavy and Paul Conroy will all make their championship bows for the Tribesmen, who finished third in NFL Division 1 this season.

Left half-forward Conroy is getting his first taste of senior championship action after captaining Galway to All-Ireland minor glory last September.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne clubman Dunleavy made two substitute appearances during the summer of 2006 but this weekend's game will mark his full championship debut.

Veteran attacker Padraic Joyce, the newly-appointed Galway captain, will start at centre-forward behind a talent-laden full-forward line of Matthew Clancy, Michael Meehan and Fiachra Breathnach.

In a further boost, Galway manager Liam Sammon has been able to name Kieran Fitzgerald at right corner back after the former All-Star defender overcame a leg injury.

Cautious ahead of his first championship game in charge, Sammon said: "Galway have always struggled against Roscommon. Whatever it is, Roscommon seem to rise themselves against us.

"They've a new manager (in Michael Ryan) and a new buzz about them, and they're coming down here with nothing to lose.

"Obviously, I want to bring us as far as possible but to be honest, for me, it's all about getting over Roscommon."

The winners of Sunday's clash - the 51st championship meeting between Galway and Roscommon - will face Leitrim in the semi-finals on June 15.

The omens are good for Galway to progress as they have won their last four championship games against Roscommon and the Rossies have not beaten the hosts at Pearse Stadium since 1988.

GALWAY (SFC v Roscommon): P Doherty; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, G Bradshaw; D Meehan, N Coyne, G Sice; B Cullinane, M Lydon; D Dunleavy, P Joyce (capt), P Conroy; M Clancy, M Meehan, F Breathnach.