Boylan blends new and old for latest beginning

O'Byrne Cup: Experimentation continues to be the theme for county football teams named for Sunday's second round of the O'Byrne Cup.

Among those coming out of the winter hibernation are the Meath team, with a game that signals the start of Seán Boylan's 22nd consecutive season as senior manager.

Just as he's been doing since the autumn of 1982, Boylan has called in some new faces as part of his fresh start. The team named to play Longford in Dromard includes several graduates from the successful minor team of two years ago.

New centre back Tom O'Connor and corner forward Brian Farrell were both part of the Meath minor team that reached the All-Ireland final in 2002, only to be outclassed on the day by Derry. Farrell is considered an excellent prospect and is likely to feature prominently during the upcoming league.

The other corner forward, Joe Sheridan, was also part of that minor team. While the full back line of Mark O'Reilly, Anthony Moyles and Donal Curtis has a familiar ring, further newcomers include Dunshaughlin half forward Niall Kelly.

Boylan has already adjusted his backroom team for the coming year, with former player Declan Mullen coming in alongside David Beggy.

Longford should provide good opposition having comfortably beaten Laois last Sunday, 6-8 to 0-6.

Elsewhere, new Westmeath manager Páidí Ó Sé has made adjustments to the team that earned an extra-time win over Louth on Sunday. The idea, however, is to rotate players, rather than rule out anyone at this early stage.

Damien Gavin will be tried at full back instead of David Mitchell, David Kilmartin will play at centre back in place of Aidan Canning, and Paul Conway, Alan Mangan and Joe Conway all come into the forward line.

Dessie Dolan, who missed out last Sunday because of the flu, will start on the bench.

Dublin, who also come into the action for the first time this year with a game against Carlow at Dr Cullen Park, are due to announce their team this evening.

In hurling news, new Clare manager Anthony Daly had his players back in training this week and among those taking part was Jamesie O'Connor, thus dispelling rumours of his imminent retirement. Daly is working off a panel of 44 players, which will be cut to 32 after two challenge games against Limerick in the coming weeks.

MEATH (SF v Longford): D Gallagher; M O'Reilly, A Moyles, D Curtis; S McGowan, T O'Connor, S Kenny; N Crawford, S McKeigue; R Magee, A Kenny, N Kelly; B Farrell, J Cullinane, J Sheridan.

WESTMEATH (SF v Kildare): A Lennon; J Davitt, D Gavin, F Murray; T Stuart-Trainor, D Kilmartin, D Heavin; R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy; F Wilson, P Conway, A Mangan; J Fallon, J Conroy, D Glennon.