Kildare, Offaly name teams for quarter-final

A number of young players will make the step up to Senior Championship football when Kildare and Offaly meet in this evening's opening Leinster SFC quarter-final at Croke Park (throw-in 5pm).

Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney has handed full SFC debuts to five of the county's Under-21 players - goalkeeper Mark Donnellan, midfielder Daniel Flynn and attacking trio Paul Cribbin, Niall Kelly and Paddy Brophy.

Daniel and Daryl Flynn will pair up in midfield with Eamonn Callaghan, who was confirmed as Kildare's new captain earlier this week, stationed at centre back.

Eoghan O'Flaherty has talented youngsters Cribbin and Kelly for company in the half-forward line, while the highly regarded Brophy, who scored 1-1 in the league semi-final loss to Tyrone, will line out at top of the left.

McGeeney has made three changes to the side that started that 2-15 to 2-11 defeat to Tyrone at Croke Park. Callaghan, Daryl Flynn and powerful full-forward Tomás O'Connor all return at the expense of Ollie Lyons, Padraig O'Neill and Sean Hurley, the latter having been dropped due to a breach of discipline.

The Lilywhites are without the injured Hugh Lynch (hamstring), Conor Mellett (knee) and Brian Flanagan (ankle) for the start of their Championship campaign. They come into this game on the back of a couple of comfortable challenge match wins over Roscommon and Waterford.

Meanwhile, there are three Championship newcomers in the Offaly team to face Kildare - Daithi Brady from Ballyfore at corner back, Cappincur's Eoin Carroll at wing back and Johnny Brickland (St. Brigid's), who will lead the Faithfuls' attack from centre forward.

Carroll was a regular for Offaly during their run through to the recent Division 4 final which they lost to fellow promoted side Limerick. Today's provincial opener will also mark a first Championship start for Edenderry's David Hanlon at wing forward.

Manager Emmet McDonnell has made three changes to the team he selected for the league decider against Limerick, as Niall Darby, Sean Pender and Ross Brady make way for Daithi Brady, Brickland and Hanlon respectively.

This will be the counties' second competitive meeting of the season. Kildare, on their way to lifting the Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup, beat Offaly 1-12 to 1-9 in a well-contested semi-final clash in Tullamore back in January.

KILDARE (SFC v Offaly): Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, Michael Foley, Hugh McGrillen; Eoin Doyle, Eamonn Callaghan (capt), Emmet Bolton; Daryl Flynn, Daniel Flynn; Paul Cribbin, Niall Kelly, Eoghan O'Flaherty; John Doyle, Tomás O'Connor, Paddy Brophy.

OFFALY: Alan Mulhall; Brian Darby, Paul McConway, Daithi Brady; Eoin Carroll, Shane Sullivan, Michael Brazil; Alan McNamee, Brian Connor; Graham Guilfoyle, Johnny Brickland, David Hanlon; Anton Sullivan, Niall McNamee (capt), Ken Casey.

Subs: Ian Duffy, Peter Cunningham, Johnny Moloney, Niall Darby, Ruairi Allen, Willie Mulhall, Luke Kelly, Matthew Mitchell, Daire Corbett, Derek Kelly, Paul McPadden.