In advance of Sunday’s Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter final against Offaly in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Colm O’Rourke has unveiled the Meath panel of twenty-six players that will represent the county in our opening Championship game for 2023. Having missed the final Allianz Football League game against Kildare, team captain Donal Keogan makes a welcome return to the starting lineup.
There are seven survivors on the starting XV that took to the field for last Summer’s Championship game in Cusack Park, Ennis, with Adam O’Neill, Donal Lenihan, Jack Flynn, Jordan Morris, Michael Flood, Ronan Jones, Ronan Ryan and Sean Coffey all coming into the team from that encounter.
26-03-23, Allianz Football League Roinn 2 Round 7 at St Conleths Park, Newbridge
Meath V Kildare
Photo: Paula Greif 2023
Amongst the replacements, James McEntee makes a return to the 26 for the first time in 2023, with the experienced Curraha clubman having recently rejoined the panel after missing out on the Allianz Football League.
Another who missed out on the Allianz Football League was Ronan Ryan as he recovered from injury and he takes up the full back role, with Adam O’Neill and Michael Flood picking up the corner back positions. Team captain Donal Keogan comes back into the team after missing out in Newbridge and he dons his familiar no.5 jersey with Padraic Harnan continuing at centre back and Sean Coffey coming in at left half back for his debut.
26-03-23, Allianz Football League Roinn 2 Round 7 at St Conleths Park, Newbridge
Padraic Harnan (Meath) & Ben McCormack (Kildare)
Meath V Kildare
Photo: Paula Greif 2023
At centre-field Ronan Jones and Daithí McGowan continue to develop their burgeoning partnership while Daithí McGowan, Mathew Costello and a repositioned Cathal Hickey form the half forward line. Inside them we have an experienced full forward line with Jordan Morris, Cillian O’Sullivan and Donal Lenihan all in line to start.
There are three players in line to make their debut from the start with Adam O’Neill, Michael Flood and Sean Coffey selected to start while Aaron Lynch, Ben Wyer, Diarmuid Moriarty, Harry O’Higgins, Keith Curtis and Sean Brennan could all potentially make their inaugural Championship appearance over the course of the game.
- Harry Hogan – Longwood (4 Championship Appearances)
- Adam O’Neill – Wolfe Tones (0 Championship Appearances)
- Ronan Ryan – Summerhill (9 Championship Appearances)
- Michael Flood – St. Brigid’s (0 Championship Appearances)
- Donal Keogan (Captain) – Rathkenny (42 Championship Appearances)
- Padraic Harnan – Moynalvey (27 Championship Appearances)
- Sean Coffey – Ballinabrackey (0 Championship Appearances)
- Ronan Jones – St. Peter’s Dunboyne (10 Championship Appearances)
- Jack Flynn – Ratoath (2 Championship Appearances)
- Daithí McGowan – Ratoath (1 Championship Appearance)
- Mathew Costello – Dunshaughlin (8 Championship Appearances)
- Cathal Hickey – Seneschalstown (8 Championship Appearances)
- Jordan Morris – Kingscourt Stars (8 Championship Appearances)
- Cillian O’Sullivan – Moynalvey (25 Championship Appearances)
- Donal Lenihan – St. Peter’s Dunboyne (10 Championship Appearances)
- Sean Brennan – Dunderry (0 Championship Appearances)
- Keith Curtis – Rathkenny (0 Championship Appearances)
- Jason Scully – Oldcastle (5 Championship Appearances)
- Harry O’Higgins – Drumbaragh Emmets (0 Championship Appearances)
- Jack O’Connor – Curraha (4 Championship Appearances)
- Ross Ryan – Summerhill (1 Championship Appearance)
- Thomas O’Reilly – Wolfe Tones (20 Championship Appearances)
- Aaron Lynch – Trim (0 Championship Appearances)
- Ben Wyer – Ratoath (0 Championship Appearances)
- Diarmuid Moriarty – Curraha (0 Championship Appearances)
- James McEntee – Curraha (18 Championship Appearances)
Tickets for Sunday’s game can be purchased in selected Super Valu/Centra stores (see below) or online here: Meath v Offaly Tickets
