Mark Collins will start for Meath on Sunday.

Four debutants for Meath

Published: Thu 24 May 2012, 7:16 PM

With injuries to Stephen Bray, Paddy Gilsenan, Mark Ward and Shane O'Rourke Meath manager Seamus McEnaney has been forced to hand Leinster SFC starting debuts to four players. Summerhill's Conor Gillespie will feature from the start in midfield against Wicklow in Carlow on Sunday for the first time, although he was a regular substitute under Eamonn O'Brien during the successful Leinster SFC run in 2010. Navan O'Mahonys Alan Forde, Blackhall Gaels' Donncha Tobin and Duleek/Bellewstown's Mark Collins are the other players who will make their first starts in the championship. Nobber's Brian Farrell will return to the starting line-up and that means disappointment for Jamie Queeney, Brian Sheridan and Peadar Byrne. The injuries to key players have also meant a reshuffle of the pack, with Shane McAnarney reverting to corner-back and captain Seamus Kenny operating at wing-back to allow Forde and Collins come into the half-forward line. Tobin has featured in all 10 of Meath's games in 2012, twice as a substitute, while Gillespie has been involved on six occasions, three times as a substitute. Forde has made just four appearance for the Royals this term, two coming as a sub, while Collins has yet to make an appearance having missed the entire NFL Div 2 campaign because of injury. MEATH TEAM David Gallagher (Dunboyne) Micky Burke (Longwood), Kevin Reilly (Navan O'Mahonys), Shane McAnarney (Clann na nGael); Donncha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Seamus Kenny (Simonstown Gaels); Conor Gillespie (Summerhill), Brian Meade (Rathkenny); Alan Forde (Navan O'Mahonys), Mark Collins (Duleek/Bellewstown), Graham Reilly (St Colmcille's); Brian Farrell (Nobber), Joe Sheridan (Seneschalstown), Cian Ward (Wolfe Tones). Subs - Justin Carry-Lynch (Gaeil Colmcille), Caoimhin King (Dunshaughlin), Eoghan Harrington (Wolfe Tones), Chris O'Connor (Ballinabrackey), Eoin Reilly (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Brian Sheridan (Seneschalstown), Jamie Queeney (Na Fianna), Peadar Byrne (Ballinlough), Damien Carroll (Ballinabrackey), Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), Ciaran Lenehan (Skryne).