Team for opening Allianz Football League encounter named

The Meath selection for the opening round of the Allianz Football League on Saturday afternoon shows five changes in personnel from the team which started last July’s Tailteann Cup Final against Down with Colm O’Rourke balancing out the loss of some players through injury with the return of others following a spell on the sidelines. Three of the starting XV will be making their Allianz Football League debuts.

Those Allianz Football League debutants are Michael Murphy, Ciarán Caulfield and Sean Coffey.

The five players who come into the team for Saturday are Michael Murphy, the returning from injury Darragh Campion and Shane Walsh along with Daithí McGowan and Jack O’Connor who both came on during the second half during the Tailteann Cup decider. Making way are Ronan Ryan, Padraic Harnan, Conor Gray, James McEntee and Jordan Morris.

A fantastic Valentine’s Day offer from our sponsors Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments.

Supporters attending the game on Saturday afternoon are advised that pre-purchasing of tickets for the game is essential with tickets available online Meath v Fermanagh Tickets or from one of the SuperValu or Centra stores listed below. Tickets are also available from SuperValu in Ardee for supporters living near the Louth border.

For those who arrive in Navan without tickets, the nearest outlet to the ground selling tickets is Birds SuperValu which is a twenty-five minute walk from Páirc Tailteann.

Having impressed during that successful Tailteann Cup run, Sean Brennan retains his place between the uprights, but he has a new look defence in front of him. Donal Keogan reverts to the right corner back berth he made his own when first estabishing his place on the team and he is joined in the full back line by debutant Michael Murphy and Adam O’Neill who pushes infield from the corner back berth he occupied last year.

Ciarán Caulfield and Sean Coffey occupy the wing back berths while Darragh Campion will anchor the defence from centre back. Team captain Ronan Jones who had lined out at centre back earlier in the Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup, reverts to his more familiar midfield berth and he is joined in the middle of the field by Jack Flynn who was Man of the Match against Down last July.

Shane Walsh, who last started in a Meath jersey almost eleven months ago after picking up an injury, leads the attack from centre forward and he is flanked by Daithí McGowan and Cathal Hickey. The inside forward line is made up of Aaron Lynch, Mathew Costello and Jack O’Connor.

Among the replacements on the substitutes bench are the last three winners of the Meath Young Footballer of the Year (Eoghan Frayne, Ruairí Kinsella and Adam McDonnell), James Conlon who has returned to the panel this year, Michael Flood and Cian McBride who has returned home from playing Aussie Rules with Essendon.

Coiste na Mí C.L.G. wish to advise supporters attending the game on Saturday to park responsibly, use official car parks, and to avoid parking in residential areas.