Five changes for seniors three for minors ahead of provincial semifinals
Meath managers were busy naming teams last night as Mick O’Dowd and Denis O’Shea unveiled their starting 15s for this weekends respective Leinster SFC semi-final against Westmeath at Croke Park on Sunday and the Leinster MFC semi-final against Longford in Pearse Park on Saturday.
O’Dowd has swung the axe following the unconvincing 2-19 to 3-12 quarter-final win over Wicklow five changes from that side compared to the team that will face Westmeath on Sunday.
Out go Davy Dalton, Nicky Judge, Brian Power Adam Flanagan and Joey Wallace and are replaced by Conor McGill, Mickey Burke, Bryan Menton, Kevin Reilly and Mickey Newman.
The return of McGill, Newman and Menton from injury are no surprises, but the naming of Kevin Reilly at midfield in place of Flanagan has raised a few eyebrows considering the O’Mahonys man’s lack of game time in recent months.
However O’Dowd appears to want to solidify his defence and naming the former captain at midfield will give extra defensive cover to a unit that was severely overworked against Wicklow.
McGill returns to full-back in place of Power, with Mickey Burke, a half-time substitute for Judge against Wicklow, retaining his place from the start this time.
Minor boss O’Shea has made three changes for Saturday’s Leinster MFC semi-final against Longford with Summerhill’s Iarla Hughes, Rathkenny’s Caolach Monaghan and Dunboyne’s David McEntee dropping to the bench in favour of Duleek/Bellewstown’s Robin Clarke, Seneschalstown’s Adam Carey and Simonstown’s Brian Conlon.
Those changes in personnel have led to a positional change with Ross Ryan moving to corner-forward.
Meath (Leinster SFC semi-final v Westmeath) - Patrick O’Rourke (Skryne); James McEntee (Curraha), Conor McGill (Ratoath), Donncha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels); Mickey Burke (Longwood), Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Harry Rooney (Skryne), Kevin Reilly (Navan O’Mahonys); Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s), Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey), Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Michael Newman (Kilmainham), Stephen Bray (Navan O’Mahonys), Bryan McMahon (Ratoath).
Meath (Leinster MFC semi-final v Longford) - Jordan Browne (St Colmcille’s); Danny Quinn (Dunshaughlin), Daniel O’Neill (Wolfe Tones), Conor Harnan (Moynalvey); Tomas McGuinness (Rathkenny), Robin Clarke (Duleek/Bellewstown), Ronan Ryan (Summerhill); Ronan Jones (Dunboyne), Conor Nash (Simonstown); Eamon O Donnchadha (Clann na nGael), Thomas O’Reilly (Wolfe Tones), Adam Carey (Seneschalstown); Padraig McGowan (Slane), Brian Conlon (Simonstown Gaels), Ross Ryan (Summerhill).