LEITRIM ARE WITHOUT talisman Emlyn Mulligan for the rest of the 2017 campaign, but five youngsters will make their first championship starts against London on Sunday.

Brendan Guckian has named his team for the clash at Ruislip, with Gortletteragh’s Jack Heslin, Fenagh St. Caillin’s Ryan O’Rourke, Mohill’s Keith Beirne, Drumreilly’s Conor Gaffney and Melvin Gaels’ Darragh Rooney all making their first championship start for the county.

Heslin, O’Rourke, Beirne and Rooney were all members of the Leitrim U21 team that ran All-Ireland finalists Galway close in Connacht earlier this year.

O’Rourke featured off the bench in last year’s defeat to Sligo in the qualifiers but it’ll be his first start at this level.

London have also named their side and they’ll start without three-time All-Ireland winner Owen Mulligan who has been involved with the squad this season.

Mulligan started in a recent challenge match against Waterford and there has been speculation that he’ll feature at some point on Sunday, despite his recent claim he’s only involved in a coaching capacity.

Leitrim

1. Brendan Flynn (Leitrim Gaels)

2. Michael McWeeney (St. Mary’s Kiltoghert)
3. Ronan Gallagher (Mohill)
4. Paddy Maguire (Glencar/Manorhamilton)

5. James Rooney (Glencar/Manorhamilton)
6. Donal Wrynn (Capt) (Fenagh St. Caillin’s)
7. Oisín Madden (Mohill)

8. Shane Moran (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s)
9. Damien Moran (Bornacoola)

10. Jack Heslin (Gortletteragh)
11. Brendan Gallagher (Lucan Sarsfields)
12. Ryan O’Rourke (Fenagh St. Caillin’s)

13. Keith Beirne (Mohill)
14. Conor Gaffney (Drumreilly)
15. Darragh Rooney (Melvin Gaels)

Subs

16 Philip Farrelly (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s)
17 Matthew Murphy (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s)
18 Noel Plunkett (Aughawillan)
19 Alan Armstrong (Mohill)
20 Gary Reynolds (Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Rua)
21 Wayne McKeon (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s)
22 Gary Plunkett (Aughawillan)
23 Ronan Kennedy (Mohill)
24 Dean McGovern (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s)
25 James Mitchell (Mohill)
26 Conor Cullen (Aughnasheelin)

London

1. Gavin McEvoy (Tír Chonaill Gaels)

2. Philip Butler (Tír Chonaill Gaels)
3. Colin Dunne (Round Towers)
4. Conor O’Neill (Kingdom Kerry Gaels)

5. Marc Jordan (Tír Chonaill Gaels)
6. Ryan Jones (St Brendans)
7. Ciaran Dunne (Garryowen)

8. Cathal Óg Greene (St Kierans)
9. Liam Gavaghan (Tír Chonaill Gaels)

10. Eoin Murray (Garryowen)
11. Mark Gottsche (Tír Chonaill Gaels)
12. Jarath Branagan (Parnells)

13. Rory Mason (Kingdom Kerry Gaels)
14. Conor Doran (Neasden Gaels)
15. Killian Butler (Tír Chonaill Gaels)

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