Moran makes five changes for Down clash

Leitrim manager Mickey Moran has made five changes in personnel for the Down clash to the team that lost the Connacht semi-final to the Rossies a month ago.

One of the alterations comes following defender Wayne McKeon's axing from the squad for a breach of discipline. Moran told the Leitrim Observer: "Wayne McKeon put himself in a position that he had to be told to leave the panel. Wayne McKeon was dropped off the panel.

"It has been sorted out in-house, disciplinary reasons, and that is all I'm going to say about it but he was dropped - he didn't leave the panel.

"We have high standards, the lads signed up to a players' charter which they drew up and unfortunately, this individual couldn't live up to those and there was no option but to drop him."

John McKeon from Drumreilly and Mohill's Daniel Beck has been brought into Leitrim's defence for this weekend's clash, replacing the injured Ronan Gallagher (ruptured hamstring) and the dropped McKeon.

Darren Sweeney slots in at midfield, taking over from Tomas Beirne whose brother Conor is also absent from the attack. Colm Clarke and Brian McDonald come in at left half-forward and right corner forward respectively.

The two counties are meeting for the first time in Championship action, with Leitrim yet to win a match in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

LEITRIM: Cathal McCrann; Dermot Reynolds, John McKeon, Paddy Maguire; Daniel Beck, Gary Reynolds, Barry Prior; Daniel Lowe, Darren Sweeney; Robert Lowe, Emlyn Mulligan, Colm Clarke; Brian McDonald, James Glancy (capt), Adrian Croal.