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Two starting debutants in Meath team as Louth unchanged for Leinster quarter-final

The counties clash in Parnell Park on Sunday.

pjimage Debuts in store for Meath's Shane McEntee and Ronan Jones.

Updated 19.10pm

MEATH BOSS ANDY McEntee has handed out first championship starts to two players for Sunday’s Leinster senior football quarter-final against Louth in Parnell Park.

Shane McEntee is named at left half-back while Ronan Jones will start at midfield. Jones came on as a substitute against Dublin last summer and has recovered from injury problems that affected him this spring.

There are only eight survivors from the Meath team that saw off Louth by 0-20 to 1-13 at the same stage in last year’s provincial clash.

Paddy O’Rourke is in goal while the defensive quartet of Donnacha Tobin, Donal Keogan, Mickey Burke and Padraic Harnan also start.

Forwards Eamon Wallace, Graham Reilly and Cillian O’Sullivan are named in the attack again while Bryan McMahon and Donal Lenihan came on as subs last year.

Meath GAA Official / YouTube

Louth manager Colin Kelly has made no changes to his starting side after their victory last time out over Wicklow.

Colin Kelly Louth manager Colin Kelly. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

The Division 3 runners-up had five points to spare over Wicklow in Round 1 almost a fortnight ago and Kelly has selected the same personnel for a second successive championship outing.

Spirits are high in the Wee County after back-to-back promotions in the league, and with Ryan Burns leading their forward line Louth are hoping for a first championship success against their neighbours since 1975.

While Kelly retains the same 15 from the Wicklow win, he does make three positional changes.

Anthony Williams moves from wing-back to wing-forward, Darren Marks switches from midfield to wing-back, and James Stewart will line out in the middle of the field after starting with No 10 on his back the last day.

Meath

1. Paddy O’Rourke (Skryne)

2. Mickey Burke (Longwood)
3. Conor McGill (Ratoath)
4. Donnacha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels)

5. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey)
6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
7. Shane McEntee (Dunboyne)

8. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne)
9. Ronan Jones (Dunboyne)

10. James McEntee (Curraha)
11. Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey)
12. Eamon Wallace (Ratoath)

13. Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s – captain)
14. Bryan McMahon (Ratoath)
15. Donal Lenihan (Dunboyne)

Louth

1. Craig Lynch (Naomh Mairtín)

2. Padraig Rath (Dreadnots)
3. Patrick Reilly (St Brides)
4. Kevin Carr (Newtown Blues)

5. Conal McKeever (Clan na Gael)
6. John Bingham (Naomh Mhuire)
7. Darren Marks (Cooley Kickhams)

8. Tommy Durnin (Westerns)
9. James Stewart (Dundalk Gaels)

10. Anthony Williams (Dreadnots)
11. Pauric Smith (Dreadnots)
12. Bevan Duffy (St Fechin’s)

13. Ruairi Moore (O’Raghallaighs)
14. Eoin O’Connor (St Patrick’s)
15. Ryan Burns (Hunterstown Rovers)

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