Gaelic Games

Roscommon name five championship debutantes for New York opener

Three Under-21 players on the starting fifteen for Kevin McStay and Fergal O’Donnell’s side

Roscommon have named their team to play New York in Gaelic Park on Sunday night. Photograph: Andy Marlin/Inpho
Roscommon have named their team to play New York in Gaelic Park on Sunday night. Photograph: Andy Marlin/Inpho
Eamon Donoghue
Sun May 01 2016 - 16:24

Roscommon have gone with a mixture of experience and youth for their Connacht championship opener with New York on Sunday night.

Joint managers Fergal O'Donnell and Kevin Mc Stay hand championship debuts to Sean Mullooly, Niall Mc Inerney, Cathal Compton, Cian Connolly and John McManus - all of whom are graduates of recent under-21 panels.

The latter, son of former All Star Tony McManus, comes in along with David Keenan to replace David Murray and Sean Purcell in a new look half back line.

Under-21 midfielder Compton replaces Cathal Shine while in the inside line Connolly replaces Senan Kilbride, with Diarmuid Murtagh moving to 14.

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Last year’s captain Niall Carty is back among the substitutes having sat out the league campaign with injury.

Throw in at Gaelic Park in New York is 4pm local time (9pm Irish time).

ROSCOMMON: Geoffrey Claffey; Sean McDermott, Neil Collins, Sean Mullooly; John McManus, David Keenan, Niall McInerney; Niall Daly, Cathal Compton; Fintan Cregg, Ciaran Murtagh (Captain), Conor Devaney; Cian Connolly, Diarmuid Murtagh, Cathal Cregg.

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist