Ahead of Sunday’s GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Group 4 Round 3 encounter with Monaghan, Colm O’Rourke has shuffled the deck and made four alterations from the side which were defeated by Kerry two weeks ago.
Both sides come into Sunday’s encounter knowing a victory will secure a place in the preliminary quarter final a week later, with Monaghan also knowing that a draw would suffice for them.
Coming back into the side are team captain Ronan Jones, Harry O’Higgins, Cian McBride and James Conlon with Brian O’Halloran, Conor Gray, Michael Murphy and Sean Ryan all reverting back to the replacements bench.
There are also two alterations among the four standby players with U-20 player Jack Kinlough and Brendan McKeon replacing the injured Michael Flood and Jason Scully.
Jack O’Connor in action during the 2024 Allianz Football League. Photo via Paula Greif/www.sportsaction.ie
Five members of Sunday’s starting XV lined out when the sides last met in the final round of the Allianz Football League at the end of October 2020. Cathal Hickey, Cillian O’Sullivan, Donal Keogan, Ronan Jones and Ronan Ryan are the five survivors. Jordan Morris who kicked seven points that day, Jack O’Connor and Mathew Costello all featured as replacements during the game.
Having come into the side for the Leinster SFC quarter final against Dublin, Billy Hogan will continue as the last line of defence with Donal Keogan, Adam O’Neill and Ronan Ryan once more making up the full back line.
The returning Harry O’Higgins, Darragh Campion and Sean Coffey form the half back line while Ronan Jones and Cian McBride both return to the side in the middle of the field.
Cillian O’Sullivan who is set to line out in the Championship for the thirty-fifth time leads the attack from centre forward and he is flanked by Ciaran Caulfield and Cathal Hickey.
The full forward line sees Mathew Costello and Eoghan Frayne joined by the returning James Conlon.
The game will be livestreamed on GAAGO and will also be covered in full on LMFM Radio via their website and App. LMFM will also have coverage on LMFM which will alternate between the game in Kingspan Breffni and the Louth v Kerry fixture.
Tickets for the game are available to purchase in selected Centra/SuperValu stores or via the link – Meath v Monaghan Tickets
- Billy Hogan (Maigh Dearmhaí) – 6 Appearances
- Donal Keogan (Rath Coinnig) – 165 Appearances
- Adam O’Neill (Bhulf Tón) – 25 Appearances
- Ronan Ryan (Druim Samhraidh) – 48 Appearances
- Harry O’Higgins (Emmet Druim Bhearradh) – 18 Appearances
- Darragh Campion (Scrín) – 37 Appearances
- Sean Coffey (Baile na Breacaighe) – 18 Appearances
- Ronan Jones (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne) (Capt.) – 46 Appearances
- Cian McBride (Naomh Ultain) – 11 Appearances
- Ciaran Caulfield (Áth Troim) – 15 Appearances
- Cillian O’Sullivan (Magh nAilbhe) – 107 Appearances
- Cathal Hickey (Baile Sencaill) – 43 Appearances
- James Conlon (Naomh Colmcille) – 37 Appearances
- Mathew Costello (Domhnach Seachnaill) – 51 Appearances
- Eoghan Frayne (Druim Samhraidh) – 13 Appearances
- Sean Brennan (Dún Doire) – 15 Appearances
- Michael Murphy (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne) – 10 Appearances
- Sean Ryan (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne) – 1 Appearance
- Brian O’Halloran (Baile Íomhair) – 8 Appearances
- Ross Ryan (Druim Samhraidh) – 11 Appearances
- Conor Gray (Domhnach Seachnaill) – 9 Appearances
- Daithí McGowan (Rath Tó) – 28 Appearances
- Ruairí Kinsella (Domhnach Seachnaill) – 9 Appearances
- Jack O’Connor (Currach Átha) – 46 Appearances
- Jordan Morris (Réaltaí Dún a Rí) – 40 Appearances
- Aaron Lynch (Áth Troim) – 21 Appearances
Standby Players
- Keith Curtis (Rath Coinnig) – 14 Appearances
- Jack Kinlough (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne) – 0 Appearances
- Sean Rafferty (Na Fianna) – 3 Appearances
- Brendan McKeon (Baile Íomhair) – 1 Appearance
Jack Kinlough in action against Kerry in the 2024 EirGrid All-Ireland FC semi-final. Photo via Paula Greif/www.sportsaction.ie
Match Officials
- Referee: Joe McQuillan (An Cabhán)
- Standby Referee: Jerome Henry (Maigh Eo)
- Line Umpire: Kevin Faloon (Ard Mhaca)
- Sideline Official: Pat Clarke (An Cabhán)
Joe McQuillan will be the man in charge on Sunday when he referees on home soil in Kingspan Breffni.
