Three senior county teams are in action this Sunday.
Allianz National Football League Division One
Kerry v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Killarney
Monaghan make the long journey to Killarney to face Kerry on Sunday.
Monaghan have notched three points via a win over Mayo and a low-scoring draw with Cavan, while Kerry won away to Donegal, before letting an early lead slip against Mayo last time out. Monaghan won in Tralee two years ago, but Kerry were convincing winners when the sides met in Clones last March.
Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged Monaghan starting team. Stephen Gollogly is among the players added to the list of substitutes, with Barry McGinn having suffered the misfortune of a cruciate-ligament injury. The visitors will be looking for big performances from the likes of Colin Walshe, the Wylie and Hughes brothers and Conor McManus.
The Kerry team named by Éamonn Fitzmaurice shows three changes from the loss to Mayo, with Brendan Kealy, Shane Enright and James O’Donoghue coming in for Brian Kelly, Adrian Spillane and Conor Keane. Another alteration will be needed, given the news that Donnchadh Walsh has been handed a one-match suspension. Shane Enright, Killian Young and Peter Crowley provide experience to their defence, along with David Moran at midfield and James O’Donoghue and current All-Star Paul Geaney up front. Jack Barry, Jack Savage and Tadhg Morley have caught the eye so far this year.
Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Shane Enright, Mark Griffin, Killian Young; Tadhg Morley, Peter Crowley (Capt.), Ronan Shanahan; David Moran, Jack Barry; Jonathan Lyne, Paul Murphy, Donnchadh Walsh; Jack Savage, Paul Geaney, James O’Donoghue.
Subs: Brian Kelly, Adrian Spillane, Barry John Keane, Stephen O’Brien, Kevin McCarthy, Gavin Crowley, Michael Geaney, Anthony Maher, Bryan Sheehan, Brendan O’Sullivan, Cathal Ó Lúing, Conor Keane, Denis Daly.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Kieran Duffy, Neil McAdam, Colin Walshe (Capt.); Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes; Karl O’Connell, Shane Carey, Gavin Doogan; Conor McCarthy, Thomas Kerr, Conor McManus.
Subs: Conor Forde, James Mealiff, Owen Coyle, Karl McQuaid, Ryan McAnespie, Niall Kearns, Dermot Malone, Owen Duffy, Stephen Gollogly, Jack McCarron, David McAlister.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Louth v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Darver
The Allianz National Hurling League also continues on Sunday, with Monaghan bidding to stay top of Division 3A when they face Louth in Darver.
Monaghan followed up an opening-round win over Tyrone with another Ulster-derby success last Sunday when they denied Donegal in an exciting encounter. Louth have lost out to Donegal and Tyrone to date.
Peter and Mark Treanor, Brian McGuigan, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Dónal and Colm Meegan should be to the fore for Monaghan, while Louth will be looking for big games from Diarmuid Murphy, Shane Callan, Gerard Smyth, Liam Dwan and Darren O’Hanrahan.
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division One
Kerry v Monaghan, Sunday, 12.00, Listowel
The Lidl Ladies National Football League continues as well, with little to separate the teams in Division One so far ahead of Monaghan’s trip to Listowel to play Kerry.
There are four teams with two wins and four teams with one win after three rounds, with Monaghan and Kerry both in the latter group. Monaghan lost out to Galway last Sunday, following a win over Mayo and low-scoring loss in Dublin, while Kerry got their first points on the board with a narrow win over previously-unbeaten Donegal.
Monaghan will hope to be able to call on the likes of Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Caoimhe Mohan, Sharon and Cora Courtney, Gráinne McNally, Laura McEnaney and Cathriona McConnell to lead their challenge. Kerry will need Louise Ní Muircheartaigh, Sarah Houlihan, Lorraine Scanlon, Anna Galvin and Denise Hallissey on form.
By cshalvey Sat 25th Feb
