Sport

Dublin go with tried and tested

Tried and tested is the model of the Dublin team for Sunday's Leinster Football Championship first round match against Longford…

Wed May 11 2005 - 01:00

Tried and tested is the model of the Dublin team for Sunday's Leinster Football Championship first round match against Longford in Croke Park. Stephen O'Shaughnessy will make his championship debut at left-corner back, although the Lucan Sarsfields player did start all seven of Dublin's league matches in that position.

There are a couple of interesting positional switches, with Bryan Cullen moving from his more familiar berth at centre back to join Colin Moran and Alan Brogan in the half-forward line. Cullen's versatility has been one of his strengths, but he appeared settled at centre back during Dublin's league campaign, where he started in six outings.

Moran, meanwhile, is clearly back to full fitness after missing the early rounds of the league. And Brogan has been impressing at centre forward in recent challenge games.

As a result of Cullen's move, Barry Cahill is named at centre back, flanked by Paul Casey and Coman Goggins. While Goggins was in and out of the Dublin starting 15 during last year's campaign, he has been rediscovering his old form. Cahill only returned from injury for Dublin's concluding game of the league.

READ MORE

Team captain Paddy Christie as expected remains at full back alongside Paul Griffin and O'Shaughnessy, while Shane Ryan will join Ciarán Whelan at midfield - edging out Darren Homan. Former dual star Conal Keaney nails down the full-forward position, partnered by Jason Sherlock and Tomás Quinn.

There are still plenty of experienced players in reserve such as Peadar Andrews, Senan Connell and Ray Cosgrove, while under-21 star Mark Vaughan also provides obvious back-up.

Should Dublin progress on Sunday they'll meet Meath in the Leinster quarter-final in Croke Park on June 5th.

DUBLIN (SF v Longford): S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cahill, C Goggins; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Moran, A Brogan, B Cullen; J Sherlock, C Keaney, T Quinn. Subs: B Murphy, P Andrews, D Homan, D O'Callaghan, S Connell, D Lally, D O'Mahony, M Vaughan, R Cosgrove, D Bastick, D Byrne, I Robertson, A Downes, B Brogan.