Donaghy to captain Kerry in league opener

Full-forward Kieran Donaghy will take on the captaincy role for Kerry's opening Allianz Football League Division 1 clash with Dublin on Saturday night (throw-in 7.15pm).

Donaghy will lead an attack which includes in-form Legion clubman James O'Donoghue, who is set to make his first competitive start for the Kingdom.

For their trip to Croke Park, Jack O'Connor's men are of course without their All-Ireland Championship-tied Dr. Crokes players.

There are notable inclusions for Laune Rangers' Peter Crowley and Brian Maguire of Listowel Emmetts in defence, with the rest of the side mostly along expected lines.

The mercurial Paul Galvin joins former captain Darran O'Sullivan in the half-forward line, with Sean O'Sullivan also back in the starting line-up.

O'Sullivan, a four-time All-Ireland SFC winner, resumed training with Kerry earlier this month after a three-year absence. His form with beaten finalists Mid-Kerry in the county Championship earned him a recall.

O'Sullivan's Cromane club-mate and fellow forward Donnchadh Walsh will miss the opening rounds of the league due to a hip/groin problem which may require surgery.

Meanwhile, substitutes Brian Moran and David O'Callaghan are back on board having previously been members of the panel, while Patrick Curtin and JP Spillane make the step-up from the Under-21 grade.

KERRY (AFL v Dublin): Brendan Kealy; Shane Enright, Marc Ó Sé, Peter Crowley; Tomás Ó Sé, Killian Young, Brian Maguire; Seamus Scanlon, Bryan Sheehan; Paul Galvin, Darran O'Sullivan, Sean O'Sullivan; James O'Donoghue, Kieran Donaghy (capt), Barry John Keane.

Substitutes: Tomás Mac a t'Saoir, Aidan O'Mahony, Daniel Bohan, Patrick Curtin, Anthony Maher, JP Spillane, Jonathan Lyne, Brian Moran, David O'Callaghan, David Geaney.