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Kerry begin their league title defence with a trip to Donegal. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

5 All-Ireland starters for Kerry, McStay and O'Rourke name Mayo and Meath sides for league openers

The 2023 Allianz football league commences tomorrow.

LAST UPDATE | 27 Jan 2023

FIVE OF KERRY’S All-Ireland final winning side start their Allianz football league Division 1 opener against Donegal on Sunday.

The full-back line of Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley and Tom O’Sullivan, centre-half back Tadhg Morley and midfielder Jack Barry are included in Jack O’Connor’s starting 15.

Four more of Sunday’s starters — the Spillane brothers, Killian and Adrian, Micheál Burns and Paul Murphy — came off the bench in last July’s decider victory over Galway.

Mike Breen and Dara Moynihan are both named to start after injury disrupted their 2022 season, while 2014 All-Ireland minor winning midfielder Barry O’Sullivan has been rewarded for his strong club campaign with Dingle last year.

New Mayo and Meath managers, Kevin McStay and Colm O’Rourke, have also unveiled their starting sides ahead of opening weekend.

Mayo face Galway in Castlebar tomorrow night in Division 1, while Meath travel to take on Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.

Colm Reape is handed his first league outing in goal for Mayo, the Knockmore man having featured this month in the FBD Connacht League. There is also a first start for corner-back Jack Coyne from Ballyhaunis, while the rest of the team features experienced figures like Stephen Coen in defence, midfield pair Matthew Ruane and Diarmuid O’Connor, with Ryan O’Donoghue in attack at corner-forward.

Mayo have also confirmed Paddy Durcan as their team captain for the 2023 season with Coen and Tommy Conroy as vice-captains.

paddy-durcan Paddy Durcan is the Mayo captain for 2023, but does not start against Galway tomorrow night, Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

Meath have handed out three league debuts. Wolfe Tones defender Adam O’Neill comes in at corner-back, having not played minor or U20 previously for the county, as older brother Daniel also starts having returned to the panel this year.

Full-back Michael Flood from St Brigid’s and midfielder Daithi McGowan from Ratoath are the other newcomers involved.

New Roscommon boss Davy Burke has also shown his hand as the Division 1 newcomers gear up to face Tyrone. The Red Hand and fellow top-tier outfits Donegal, Armagh and Monaghan are yet to release team news.

Kerry (v Donegal)

1. Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes)

2. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)

5. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe), 7. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)

8. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil), 9. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)

10. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes), 11. Dara Moynihan (Spa Killarney), 12. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe)

13. Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes), 14. Darragh Roche (Glenflesk), 15. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)

Subs

  • 16. Devon Burns (Na Gaeil)
  • 17. Donal O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan)
  • 18. Jack O’Shea (Austin Stacks)
  • 19. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks)
  • 20. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks)
  • 21. Stefan Okunbor (Na Gaeil)
  • 22. Dan O’Donoghue (Spa)
  • 23. Barry Mahony (St Senan’s)
  • 24. Ruairi Murphy (Listry)
  • 25. Dylan Geaney (Dingle)
  • 26. Pa Warren (Gneeveguilla)

Mayo (v Galway)

1. Colm Reape (Knockmore)

2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis), 3. Rory Brickenden (Westport), 4. Enda Hession (Garrymore)

5. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore), 6. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers), 7. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels)

8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy), 9. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)

10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport), 11. Jack Carney (Kilmeena), 12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)

13. Aiden Orme (Knockmore), 14. James Carr (Ardagh), 15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Beal an Mhuirthead)

Meath (v Cork)

1. Harry Hogan (Longwood)

2. Adam O’Neill (Wolfe Tones), 3. Michael Flood (St. Brigid’s), 4. Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown)

5. Eoin Harkin (Dunsany), 6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), 7. Daniel O’Neill (Wolfe Tones)

8. Ronan Jones (St. Peter’s Dunbyone), 9. Daithí McGowan (Ratoath)

10. Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey), 11. Jason Scully (Oldcastle), 12. Darragh Campion (Skryne)

13. Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars, Cavan), 14. Mathew Costello (Dunshaughlin), 15. Shane Walsh (Na Fianna)

Roscommon (v Tyrone)

1. Colm Lavin (Eire Og)

2. Conor Hussey (Michael Glaveys), 3. Conor Daly (Padriag Pearses), 4. Eoin McCormack (St Dominics)

5. Dylan Ruane (Michael Glaveys), 6. Brian Stack (St Brigids, captain) 7. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)

8. Tadhg O’Rourke (Tulsk Lord Edwards), 9. Keith Doyle (St Dominics)

10. Robbie Dolan (St Brigids), 11. Enda Smith (Boyle), 12. Ciarán Lennon (Clann na nGael)

13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleachs), 14. Conor Cox (Eire Og), Ciaráin Murtagh (St Faithleachs).

- Additional reporting by Emma Duffy.

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    Mute mainmsam
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    Nov 10th 2023, 5:54 PM

    It wasn’t tongue in cheek though. Crook has has several discussions on his shows about this. Fair play to Ferguson for slapping that down the way he did

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    Mute IrishOwl
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    Nov 10th 2023, 6:38 PM

    It was a question and he answered it perfectly. My god… the drama.

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    Mute Paully kells
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    Nov 10th 2023, 6:48 PM

    @IrishOwl: the same question he has answered a few times already.with crook been the “chief football correspondent” thought he would know the answer coming better than most.he was 100% been smart and trying make light of it now. Gobsh**t for talksh**t.

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    Mute Louise Murphy
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    Nov 10th 2023, 8:25 PM

    @Paully kells: think your a bitter man paulie. always angry. maybe open a beer and relax a bit.
    We have had our fair share of English born players playing for Ireland, not to mention the hatred towards two current English internationals who were born and grew up in England. We had a CEO that wanted to be the 33rd team in a world cup. Don’t think we’re in any position to criticize these questions.

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    Mute Mike Kennedy
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    Nov 10th 2023, 9:21 PM

    @Louise Murphy: he’s not bitter at all Lou, I enjoy Paullys comments here and on this occasion he is right. Mute him if it annoys you.

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    Mute Paully kells
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    Nov 10th 2023, 10:44 PM

    @Louise Murphy: not atal..but I’d say the young lad is getting rather sick of the same question over and over..he’s made it clear…take care

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Nov 10th 2023, 6:33 PM

    Why do the Sky sports commentators pronounce the foreign player’s names properly eg Henry or Pires , bit they don’t pay the irish player’s the same respect eg Moran, Kernaghan, Hourihane (though they do pronounce this name properly now since he took them up on it live on television)?

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    Mute Conor Lynott
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    Nov 10th 2023, 9:02 PM

    @Louis Jacob: Probably for the same reason Hollywood can’t do the Irish accent.

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    Mute John Duggan
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    Nov 10th 2023, 10:49 PM

    @Louis Jacob: bit they dont?

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Nov 10th 2023, 6:27 PM

    The Brits have such a polite way of being ignorant.

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    Mute Tom Walsh
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    Nov 10th 2023, 6:26 PM

    I suspect a lot of German fans would like to see Harry Kane line out for them. But the English wouldn’t take it too well if he was constantly pestered about it. Tin ear stuff really..

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    Mute Paully kells
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    Nov 10th 2023, 6:14 PM

    Crook-cheif football correspondent for talk sh**t he hasn’t much between the ears,and he knows damn well he was been disrespectful, well done to Evan with he’s reply put him into place.

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    Mute Denis cremin
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    Nov 10th 2023, 7:11 PM

    The audacity of that question !!

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    Mute Joe O'Regan
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    Nov 10th 2023, 7:43 PM

    Ignorant on so many levels. Ferguson is ineligible for England now. He doesn’t feel English at all. He is Irish and proud, born and bred here with an Irish father. Yes his mother is English but very disrespectful to be still asking him now.

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    Mute damien leen
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    Nov 10th 2023, 7:16 PM

    Talk Sport is trash!

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    Mute John O Byrne
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    Nov 10th 2023, 10:15 PM

    And Rice can’t remember singing come out you black and tans now

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    Mute Der Calnan
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    Nov 10th 2023, 11:31 PM

    I’m all mixed up regarding the rules, does anyone actually know what they are?

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Nov 10th 2023, 10:45 PM

    You don’t hear them asking any of the English players why they are committed to England……..

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    Mute John Pembroke
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    Nov 10th 2023, 9:16 PM

    A lit bit of English mischief to get some harmless revenge for the abuse Rice and Grealish got when they switched over.

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    Mute Mike Kennedy
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    Nov 10th 2023, 9:23 PM

    @John Pembroke: deserved all the abuse they got, pair of shitehawks

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