Paul Mannion named at centre forward as Dublin reveal XV

Dublin have named Paul Mannion at centre forward for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.

If the teams are to line out as selected - Denis Bastick will replace Michael Dara Macauley at midfield, while Ciaran Kilkenny resumes his half forward role with James McCarthy returning to line out at wing back.

Mannion impressed off the bench in the quarter-final win over Donegal - having missed last year’s All-Ireland triumph as he studied abroad. The Kilmacud Crokes attacker though has played the vast majority of his football in the inside line.

Kerry have welcomed Colm Cooper back to their starting fifteen - ‘Gooch’ missed the quarter final after picking up an injury in the Munster final win over Tipperary, but he returns at centre forward to replace Darran O’Sullivan.

Meanwhile Brian Kelly remains in goal - his fourth consecutive Championship start. With last year’s All Star goalkeeper Brendan Kealy on the bench, alongside Bryan Sheehan - speculation was rife that the Kerry midfielder would line out between the sticks. He was a goalkeeper as a Kerry minor, but that scenario now look looks even more unlikely.

Michael Geaney and Johnny Buckley are both back on the bench. With Killian Young captaining the team from corner back.

Centre back Peter Crowley, Shane Enright and Michael Geaney are all one black card (or a double yellow card) away from missing a potential final. As is also the case for Dublin corner back Jonny Cooper.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Philly McMahon, Jonny Cooper, David Byrne; James McCarthy, Cian O'Sullivan, John Small; Denis Bastick, Brian Fenton; Paul Flynn, Paul Mannion, Ciaran Kilkenny; Dean Rock, Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan

KERRY: Brian Kelly, Shane Enright, Mark Griffin, Killian Young (Captain), Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Peter Crowley, Tadhg Morley, Kieran Donaghy, David Moran, Paul Murphy, Colm Cooper, Donnchadh Walsh, Stephen O'Brien, Paul Geaney, James O'Donoghue.