National League Div 1
Kerry v Tyrone
Today at 2pm
Fitzgerald Stadium

Recalled East Kerry trio Shane Ryan, Jack Sherwood and Jonathan Lyne all start for Kerry today as Peter Keane takes charge of the county’s senior football team for the very first time in a competitive game.

Ryan, who operates at full-forward at club level for Rathmore, will line out between the sticks as experienced Killarney Legion keeper Brian Kelly must make do with a place on the bench. The burly target man is known for his accurate point-kicking out the field but in recent years he has also lined out in goal for the Kerry minors and U21s to great effect.

According to reports, Ryan had expressed a desire to play outfield when previously called in by former manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice but evidently Keane sees him as a viable candidate for the number 1 jersey going forward.

Firies native Jack Sherwood is a familiar face to Kerry supporters having featured in both league and championship for The Kingdom between 2013 and 2015. The versatile all-rounder, who also can play at half back, midfield or half forward, will anchor Keane’s defence from the full back position. Sherwood caught the eye with a string of impressive performances in the 2018 Kerry SFC as he helped East Kerry to reach the semi-final stage.

Full back is not his natural position but with Mark Griffin and Jason Foley out injured, Keane’s options at number 3 are limited.

In the forward division, Legion man Jonathan Lyne makes his return to the fold after falling out of favour with Eamonn Fitzmaurice in 2018. Lyne featured regularly under Fitzmaurice  up to that point and memorably kicked two crucial extra-time scores when Kerry beat Mayo in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay. He is a player the current bainisteoir knows well; Lyne was a key member of the Legion team that reached the 2015 Kerry SFC final with Keane at the helm.

Templenoe midfielder Adrian Spillane will line out at midfield alongside Jack Barry and there is also a place in the starting line-up for hard-working forward Michael Geaney. The Dingle native has been named at 13 alongside his cousin, though he is likely to drift out the field and leave Paul and James O’Donoghue inside as a two-man full forward line.

Meanwhile, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has brought a strong-looking squad to Killarney. Nine of the team who started the 2018 All-Ireland final will line-out in the Fitzgerald Stadium today, while Galbally’s Liam Rafferty and Brian Kennedy of Derrylaugha will make their senior intercounty debuts.

Kerry team

1. Shane Ryan

2. Peter Crowley

3. Jack Sherwood

4. Brian Ó Beaglaioch

5. Tadhg Morley

6. Paul Murphy (C)

7. Tom O'Sullivan

8. Jack Barry

9. Adrian Spillane

10. Jonathan Lyne

11. Seán O'Shea

12. Stephen O'Brien

13. Michael Geaney

14. Paul Geaney

15. James O'Donoghue

Subs

16. Brian Kelly

17. Diarmuid O'Connor

18. Gavin Crowley

19. Dara Moynihan

20. Graham O'Sullivan

21. Tommy Walsh

22. Gavin O'Brien

23. Killian Spillane

24. Tom Leo O'Sullivan

25. Tomas O Se

26. Robert Wharton

Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.