Four debuts for Meath
Meath manager Mick O’Dowd will hand championship debuts to four players when Meath travel to Parnell Park on Sunday to take on Louth in the Leinster SFC quarter-final at 3.30pm.
Trim’s Alan Douglas, Navan O’Mahonys’ Darragh Smyth, Ratoath’s Cian O’Brien and Moynalvey’s Cillian O’Sullivan will all taste championship action for the first time, although the quartet have featured extensively throughout the league.
O’Sullivan has started 11 of Meath’s 12 games this year, while Douglas has played 10 times, four of them from the bench. Smyth gets only his second start of the year, but he has appeared as a sub on eight occasions, while four of O’Brien’s five appearances this year have been from the bench.
With Conor McGill out injured O’Dowd has turned to captain Donal Keogan to wear the number three shirt, while James McEntee’s absence opens the door for O’Brien. Andy Tormey will partner Harry Rooney at midfield.
The Meath team to face Louth in Parnell Park on Sunday is
1 Paddy O’Rourke Skryne
2 Donnacha Tobin Blackhall Gaels
3 Donal Keogan Rathkenny (Capt.)
4 Mickey Burke Longwood
5 Darragh Smyth Navan O’Mahony’s
6 Padraic Harnan Moynalvey
7 Alan Douglas Trim
8 Harry Rooney Skryne
9 Andrew Tormey Donaghmore/Ashbourne
10 Cian O’Brien Ratoath
11 Graham Reilly St Colmcille’s
12 Cillian O’Sullivan Moynalvey
13 Eamon Wallace Ratoath
14 Dalton Mc Donagh Na Fianna
15 Michael Newman Kilmainham