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.