Brian McLoughlin named to start for Kildare against Galway
Galway make four changes from their provincial final defeat
Brian Flanagan and his management team have announced their team for Saturday’s All-Ireland Football Series, Round 1 game against Galway in Salhill, throw-in 7.30.
There are a number of positional changes but just one change in personnel from the starting XV that lost out to Westmeath in the Leinster SFC semi-final, Brian McLoughlin is named to start instead of Callum Bolton, the Sarsfields man presumably injured, as he does not appear on the match day squad.
Alex Beirne is listed on the bench while Shane Farrell makes a welcome return to the squad after a long absence, Sam Doran is also included.
The full team reads:
KILDARE V Galway
Cian Burke; Ryan Burke, Mark Dempsey, Harry O’Neill; James McGrath, Eoin Lawlor, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely cpt., Brendan Gibbons; Brian McLoughlin, Darragh Swords, Tommy Gill; Ben Loakman, Darragh Kirwan Eoin Cully.
Panel: Eoin Sheehan, Padraic Spillane, James Harris, Colm Moran, Shane Farrell, Sam Doran, Colm Dalton, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Neil Flynn, Jack Robinson.
Standby players: Rob Fitzgerald, Darragh Mangan, Cathal Hagney, Niall Dolan.
Meanwhile Galway have also named their team and it shows four changes from the side that lost to Roscommin in the Connacht final.
The GALWAY team reads:
Conor Flaherty; Jack Glynn, Cian Hernon, Liam Silke; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Seán Kelly; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Céin Darcy, Ciarán Mulhern, Cillian McDaid; RoB Finnerty, Matthew Tierney, Shane Walsh.
Panel: Conor Gleeson, Brian Cogger, Sean Ó Maoilchiaráin, Johnny McGrath, Kieran Molloy, Ryan Roche, Shay McGlinchey, Shane McGrath, Daniel O’Flaherty, Oisín MacDonnacha, Damien Comer.