Changes are the order of the day for U-20’s

In the first of the Meath vs Offaly games this week, the U-20 Footballers welcome their Faithful County counterparts to Ashbourne on Wednesday evening for Round 3 of the Dalta Hotel Group Leinster U-20 Football Championship and the side to take on Offaly is much changed.

Indeed, Cathal Ó Bric and his management team have made wholesale changes with all fifteen players who started last week against Westmeath dropping out of the side and an entirely new team selected.

With a place in the quarter finals already secured after an opening night victory over Dublin and the Round 2 win over Westmeath, the opportunity to give game time to other members of the panel and offer them a chance to stake a claim for a starting berth in the quarter final next week has been taken.

Braydon Colfer takes over in goals from his Slane teammate Matthew Kealy and he will have a full back line of Cillian Yore, Fiach Hartigan and Oisín Brennan in front of him. James Reeves who featured as a second half replacement last week, comes in at centre back and he is joined in the half back line by Aidan Mackey from the host club Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Séimí Byrne.

Two players who featured in adult championship finals for their clubs last Autumn will form the midfield pairing as Harry Cahill of Dunsany and Sean Betson of Navan O’Mahonys link up.

Another player who will be lining up on home turf is Zach Thornton who leads the attack from the forty and Zach has been handed the team captaincy for the evening.  He will have Conor O’Brien beside him at right half forward and Ivo Fitzherbert at left half forward.

The inside line sees a third player from Donaghmore/Ashbourne taking to the field as Evan Kelly lines out at top of the left.  Pat Crawley will be at right corner forward and Cian Duggan will be on the edge of the square at full forward.

Additional Panel Members

Fiach Hartigan comes into the side at full back. Photo courtesy FidgyFotos

Management Team