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Jack O’Connor makes three unforced changes for Kerry’s trip to Meath

Published

2 years ago

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Kerry bainisteoir Jack O'Connor. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

All-Ireland SFC Group 4

Meath v Kerry

Sunday 2pm

Páirc Tailteann, Navan

Live on RTÉ

Jack O'Connor has decided to give three fringe players a chance to shine in Kerry's second All-Ireland group game against Meath on Sunday.

Dylan Casey, Mike Breen and Cillian Burke have all been included in the first 15 with regular starters Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley and Dara Moynihan dropping to the bench.

Rookie wing forward Burke started six out of Kerry's first nine matches this season but he was a substitute in the last outing against Monaghan.

Graham O'Sullivan (ankle) remains a notable absentee. The in-form corner/half back also missed the previous fixture and supporters will be hoping that he recovers in time for the knockout rounds, assuming that Kerry advance from their group.

KERRY TEAM

1. Shane Ryan

2. Dylan Casey

3. Jason Foley

4. Tom O'Sullivan

5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich

6. Mike Breen

7. Gavin White

8. Diarmuid O'Connor

9. Joe O'Connor

10. Tony Brosnan

11. Paudie Clifford

12. Cillian Burke

13. David Clifford

14. Seánie O'Shea

15. Paul Geaney

Subs: Shane Murphy, Dara Moynihan, Tadhg Morley, Paul Murphy, Seán O'Brien, Adrian Spillane, Barry Dan O'Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Darragh Roche, Armin Heinrich, Dylan Geaney.

As for Meath, Colm O'Rourke has opted to go with the same starting line-up that lost emphatically to Louth in Round 1. Corner back Donal Keogan and centre forward Cillian O'Sullivan are by far the two most experienced players on the team.

MEATH TEAM

1. Billy Hogan

2. Donal Keogan

3. Adam O’Neill

4. Ronan Ryan

5. Harry O’Higgins

6. Darragh Campion 

7. Seán Coffey 

8. Ronan Jones

9. Cian McBride

10. Ciaran Caulfield 

11. Cillian O’Sullivan 

12. Cathal Hickey 

13. James Conlon

14. Mathew Costello

15. Eoghan Frayne

Subs: Seán Brennan, Michael Murphy, Seán Ryan, Brian O'Halloran, Ross Ryan, Conor Gray, Daithí McGowan, Ruairí Kinsella, Jack O'Connor, Jordan Morris, Aaron Lynch.

    The Kingdom are unbackable favourites to pick up an away win at Páirc Tailteann following their comprehensive victory over Monaghan a fortnight ago. O’Connor went for an attack-minded team that day and his decision paid off as all six starting forwards scored from play in what was arguably his side’s most impressive offensive display of the season.

    Colm O’Rourke’s Meath side have not enjoyed a successful season to date. After finishing third from bottom in Division 2 of the National League, they were unceremoniously dumped out of Leinster by Dublin at the semi-final stage (3-19 to 0-12).

    Then, in their first game in the Sam Maguire, they suffered their first defeat to neighbours Louth in 49 years.

    Historically, Kerry have had the upper hand versus Meath in the championship. The counties have met on eight occasions with Kerry winning six times and Meath winning twice.

    The most famous encounter between the sides in living memory was Meath’s remarkable 15-point victory in the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final. Páidí Ó Sé’s Kerry were the reigning All-Ireland champions and many expected them to advance to another final against Galway, but they were blown out of the water by a terrific team performance by Seán Boylan’s Meath.

    Kerry managed just one point in the second half as Meath ran out 2-14 to 0-5 winners.

    More recently, Kerry were victorious in the 2009 semi-final (2-8 to 1-7) and in the Super 8s match in Navan in the summer of 2019 (2-18 to 1-13).

    There will be a full round of fixtures in the All-Ireland group stage this weekend with matches taking place on both Saturday and Sunday.

    In the other game in Group 4, Monaghan will take on Louth on Sunday at 3.30pm in Clones.

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    Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

    Published

    1 month ago

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    7 November 2025

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    Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

    Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

    Saturday 7.30pm

    Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

    The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

    Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

    St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

    The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

    Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

    LAKERS

    The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

    Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

    Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

    The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

    Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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    Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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    1 month ago

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    7 November 2025

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    After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

    The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

    This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

    Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

    More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

    The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

    The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

    Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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