Roscommon unchanged for semi-final

Manager Fergal O'Donnell has picked an unchanged Roscommon team for Sunday's Connacht SFC semi-final against Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon (throw-in 2pm).

Niall Carty, Donal Ward and Senan O'Grady have retained their starting berths after making their first Championship starts in the opening round win over New York last month.

The selected team shows seven changes in personnel to the side that beat Leitrim 1-13 to 0-11 at the semi-final stage of last year's Connacht Championship.

O'Connell is preparing the Nestor Cup holders for a tough test this weekend, especially given the close nature of the Rossies' 1-14 to 0-15 win over Leitrim at Dr. Hyde Park last month.

"I wasn't surprised with Leitrim's result (against Sligo). These Leitrim players suddenly haven't appeared from nowhere," O'Donnell told the Roscommon Herald.

"They were used in the league and Leitrim certainly had us on the rack at Hyde Park. We went 0-09 to 0-04 up but they dominated the game from the 28th minute onwards.

"They obviously have a bit of momentum and it puts them in a strong position on Sunday. They’re at home, which is always an advantage. We’ll have our work cut out."

Commenting on his own team, he added: "It's a long time since we played in New York. Leitrim have the momentum from the Sligo game. We'll have to hit the ground running.

"You'd be worried that we'd be a bit flat like we were in the league final. If we're rusty in the early stages on Sunday, it’s going to be difficult.

"It (the break between matches) has been an advantage in that regard but club and inter-county Championship are very different. We’ve seen everyone in action but it's hard to get the mix right. It’s like starting the Championship all over again."

ROSCOMMON (SFC v Leitrim): Geoffrey Claffey; Seán McDermott, Peter Domican (capt), Niall Carty; Ian Kilbride, David Keenan, Donal Ward; Michael Finneran, Karol Mannion; Senan O'Grady, Kevin Higgins, Cathal Cregg; Conor Devanney, Senan Kilbride, Donie Shine.

Subs: Mark Miley, Stephen Ormsby, James McKeague, Seamus O’Neill, Ger Heneghan, John Rogers, Paul Garvey, Niall Daly, Enda Kenny, Darren McDermott, Seán Purcell.