McEntee unveils first team
New Meath manager Andy McEntee will hand two players their senior debuts when the defending champions open their O'Byrne Cup campaign with a tough test at home to Wicklow in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, 2pm.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne's Jack Hannigan will start between the posts as Paddy O'Rourke recovers from injury, while Castletown's Kevin Ross will feature for the first time when he starts at corner-forward.
The manager's son Shane McEntee will make his first start having featured four times as a sub in 2016 under Mick O'Dowd.
Dunderry's Paddy Kennelly is another who will feature from the start for the first time having played three times last year as a substitute, while Donaghmore/Ashbourne's Sean Curran returns to action for the first time since making six appearances in 2014.
Another who returns to the Green and Gold is Bryan Menton. After taking a year out in 2016, the Donaghmore/Ashbourne man will start at midfield alongside Ratoath's Cian O'Brien.
Na Fianna's Conor Downey and Seneschalstown's Brian Sheridan are others who return to the frame having missed out in recent years.
The Meath team to face wicklow on Sunday is:
Meath - Jack Hannigan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), Donnacha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels), Mickey Burke (Longwood); Conor Downey (Na Fianna), Shane McEntee (Dunboyne), Sean Curran (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Cian O’Brien (Ratoath); Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey), Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s), Paddy Kennelly (Dunderry); Kevin Ross (Castletown), Brian Sheridan (Seneschalstown), Bryan McMahon (Ratoath).