No changes for Kerry starting side as Diarmuid O'Connor included in squad

TEAM NAMED: Diarmuid O'Connor is included in Kerry's 28 man squad. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Diarmuid O’Connor is included in the Kerry longlist squad of 28 players for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final against Donegal as Jack O’Connor has announced no changes to his starting team.

The 15 who began the semi-final win over Tyrone are set to be in from the off but O’Connor could be available for the first time since the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final win over Cavan in Killarney last month. Kerry have named 28 players but the match-day panel is limited to 26.

The Na Gaeil man had to retire shortly after the start of that fixture when he aggravated the shoulder injury that has troubled him since the Division 1 win over Armagh in March.

Paul Geaney, who scored a goal against Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland final win, is again listed among the substitutes. However, there is no place for three-time All Star Tom O’Sullivan who had to retire with a calf injury in the first half of the All-Ireland quarter-final win against Armagh.

Geaney and Paul Murphy are the two survivors in the squad from the final 11 years ago. From the team that exited the championship at the All-Ireland semi-final stage last year, nine of the team remain – Shane Ryan, Murphy, Jason Foley, Brian Ó Beaglaioch, Gavin White, Joe O’Connor, Paudie and David Clifford and Seán O’Shea. Five of the other six are on the bench – Tadhg Morley, Diarmuid O’Connor Tony Brosnan, Paul Geaney and Dara Moynihan.

KERRY (SFC v Donegal): Shane Ryan (Rathmore); Paul Murphy (Rathmore), Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks); Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), Mike Breen (Beaufort), Gavin White (c, Dr Crokes); Seán O’Brien (Beaufort), Mark O’Shea (Dr Crokes); Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks), Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses); David Clifford (Fossa), Paudie Clifford (Fossa), Dylan Geaney (Dingle).

Subs (11 from 13): Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes), Killian Spillane (Templenoe), Evan Looney (Dr Crokes), Tom Leo O’Sullivan (Dingle), Tadhg Morley (Templenoe), Paul Geaney (Dingle), Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes), Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes), Armin Heinrich (Austin Stacks), Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil), Conor Geaney (Dingle), Dara Moynihan (Spa).