All-Ireland football champions Kerry have called in young Tomas O Se to make his senior debut for their Munster semi-final clash with Cork at Killarney. The 20- year-old defender, who already holds an Under21 All-Ireland medal, is selected at right corner back at the expense of Killian Burns, who was in last year's triumphant senior team.
The team shows four changes in personnel from that which lifted the Sam Maguire last September. Along with as O Se, the new men are Donal Daly, Mike Frank Russell and John Crowley. All four were part of last year's panel.
The men missing from last September's starting 15 are Burns, who moves to the bench, William Kirby, the injured Billy O'Shea and last year's captain Liam Hassett, who retired from the inter-county scene along with his brother, Mike, after a dispute with the Kerry management earlier this year. After a rather mediocre National League campaign, Kerry have settled on an experienced side in which MF Russell and Maurice Fitzgerald are expected to put considerable pressure on Cork's full back line.
The pairing of Dara O Se and Donal Daly at midfield is as expected. Dara O Cinneide, full forward last September, leads the attack at centre forward, with John Crowley at full forward.
In hurling, Kilkenny have called up Johnny Dooley from the St Martin's club to replace Michael Phelan at centre half forward as they face Offaly in Sunday's Leinster final at Croke Park. It will be Dooley's first championship outing, with the added coincidence that he will, of course, be facing his more renowned Offaly namesake.
Dooley has never played for Kilkenny at either minor or Under-21 level, but he had been considered for selection against Dublin and Laois, but was ruled out because of a leg injury. The other significant alteration in the Kilkenny side is the return to the left half forward position of Brian McEvoy. He also lost out through injury in earlier championship matches, and now replaces Denis Byrne.
Of some importance also is the fact that the selectors have named Willie O'Connor at left corner back. This is a direct switch with Liam Keoghan, who will line out at left half back.
Roscommon footballers have left their right corner forward position vacant for their replay against Sligo in the Connacht semi-final at Markievicz Park. The position was filled by Francie Grehan in the drawn match, while Tommy Grehan, who came in as a sub last Sunday, is selected at right half forward. In the defence, Denis Gavin is preferred to Ronan Owens at right corner back.
Kilkenny (SH v Offaly): J Dermody; T Hickey, P O'Neill, W O'Connor; M Kavanagh, C Brennan, L Keoghan; P Barry, P Larkin; D J Carey, J Dooley, B McEvoy; N Maloney, P J Delaney, C Carter. Subs: J McGary, A Comerford, K O'Shea, J Costello, M Phelan, S Ryan, J Hoyne, L Simpson, D Byrne, S Prendergast, R O'Moore.
Roscommon (SF v Sligo): D Thompson; D Gavin, D Donlon, E Gavin; C Heneghan, C McDonald, M Ryan; G Keane, T Ryan; T Grehan, D Connellan, E Lohan; A N Other, N Dineen, L Dowd. Subs: R Lannon, F O'Donnell, C Grogan, R Owens, R O'Callaghan, F Grehan, V Glennon, J Neary, R Doorey.
Kerry (SF v Cork): D O'Keeffe; T O Se, B O'Shea, S Stack; S Moynihan, L O'Flaherty, E Breen; D O Se, D Daly; P Laide, D O Cinneide, D O'Dwyer; M F Russell, J Crowley, M Fitzgerald. Subs: P O'Leary, K Burns, J Brennan, E Fitzmaurice, L Brosnan, C Kennedy, N Kennelly, J Ferriter, M Moynihan.
Kerry (JF v Cork): M Murphy; A Morris, T O'Sullivan, F O'Shea; D Moynihan, K Scanlon, M O'Donoghue; J Daly, P Quinn; G Stack, J McGlynn, A MacGearailt; J Murphy, S McElligott, G Farrell. Subs: G Cremin, C O'Connor, J Costelloe, S O'Mahony, C Drummond, R MacGearailt, S Hussey, G O'Keeffe, I Twiss.
