Although captain Declan O'Sullivan is included for his first competitive match this year, having undergone a knee operation last December, Kerry manager Jack O'Connor resisted temptation to throw any surprises into the mix ahead of Sunday's trip to face Tipperary in Thurles.
Although captain Declan O'Sullivan is included for his first competitive match this year, having undergone a knee operation last December, Kerry manager Jack O'Connor resisted temptation to throw any surprises into the mix ahead of Sunday's trip to face Tipperary in Thurles.
Eyebrows will be raised by the omission of last year's captain Dara Ó Cinnéide as Liam Hassett moves from midfield to centre forward with O'Sullivan taking the number-14 jersey. Although this is a direct knock-on effect caused by the return of Darragh Ó Sé.
O'Sullivan's selection means the management don't have to break with tradition by naming a captain from outside county champions, South Kerry.
In just his second year at the helm, O'Connor finds himself in a favourable position. Having won an All-Ireland without Séamus Moynihan, Darragh Ó Sé and Mike Frank Russell, from the start at least, he is able to name all three for this weekend.
From the side that took the field for last year's All-Ireland final, these three are the only personnel changes. Moynihan replaces Eamon Fitzmaurice at centre back, Darragh Ó Sé is back at midfield, while Russell regains the corner forward berth in place of Johnny Crowley, who has opted out of football this year.
Last weekend, Fitzmaurice was named on a B team in a trial match to allow Brendan Guiney a run at wing back with Tomás Ó Sé wearing number six. The management resisted this option, though, as the Ó Sé brothers flank Moynihan in a ridiculously talented half back line.
Paddy Kelly was a surprise inclusion for the All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Dublin last year and was another rumoured to be pushing for a starting place recently.
However, by leaving out Ó Cinnéide, Fitzmaurice and especially Declan Quill a powerful message has been sent to the panel regarding the level of performance expected. Just ask Mike Frank Russell. The deadly corner forward regains the berth he surprisingly lost before last year's All-Ireland semi-final, to partner O'Sullivan and an improved version of Colm Cooper in the full forward line.
Crowley may be gone but Russell will be under severe pressure from Quill this summer as the Kerins O'Rahillys man finally looks capable of transferring spring potential into summer form. Quill damaged his collarbone in a recent challenge match against Kildare but is nearing full tilt once more.
In midfield, Willie Kirby partners Darragh Ó Sé but this decision was made easier as Tralee basketballers Michael Quirke and Kieran Donaghy have recently been troubled by injury. Noel Kennelly is also struggling with a hamstring problem.
Darren O'Sullivan, who was the standout performer in Kerry's run to the minor All-Ireland final in 2004, had been with the panel but will line out with the Kerry juniors this weekend.
Kildare manager Pádraig Nolan has performed major surgery on the team that sneaked past Wicklow ahead of Sunday's meeting with Leinster champions Westmeath at Croke Park. Nolan has dropped five players and changed every line on his team.
Karl Ennis and Dermot Earley will start, after coming in against Wicklow, at left half back and centre forward, respectively, while James Lonergan makes his championship debut at corner back, with Pádraig Mullarkey moving to full back to replace Damien Hendy.
Nolan admitted his defence was poor the last day but also pointed to a chronic injury list that has been alleviated, although Andrew McLoughlin has yet to regain full fitness.
Michael Foley returns to midfield alongside Killian Brennan, instead of Willie Heffernan, with full forward Ross Glavin and wing back Mick Wright also back in. Pádraig O'Neill, Stuart McKenzie-Smith and David Lyons are others to lose out.
Val Daly will give four players a championship debut as Roscommon travel to London to launch their Connacht championship campaign. Brian McNeela and Conor Beirne come into the full back line, while Michael Finneran and Enda Kenny are named at midfield and half forward.
Daly must plan without Frankie Dolan who, despite returning to the panel after Tommy Carr resigned, has a broken finger. At least influential midfielder Séamus O'Neill is back after a recent foot problem.
Clare manager John Kennedy is without several key players for the challenge of Waterford in Ennis. Injury is the main culprit here but forward Denis Russell has turned down an offer to return to the intercounty set up after being reprimanded for disciplinary reasons during the league.
They will still be expected to get past a Waterford side that has named four new comers in Thomas Wall, Andrew Heffernan, Shane Briggs and William Kavanagh.
