A new era in Kerry football formally began yesterday as the All-Ireland champions released their first championship team of 2007 for the trip to play Waterford in Dungarvan this Sunday.
The retirements of Séamus Moynihan, Mike McCarthy and, more recently, Eamon Fitzmaurice have left large gaps, and so rookie manager Pat O'Shea names two debutants in defence. Tom O'Sullivan switches to full back with Pádraig Reidy getting a first start at corner back, while Aidan O'Mahony replaces the legendary Moynihan at centre back with Killian Young coming in for the first time at wing back.
"Eamon Fitz (Fitzmaurice) is one of my best mates and when he left it came out of the blue because we were used to the fact that Mike Mac and Séamus (Moynihan) would not be around," said wing forward Paul Galvin.
"Eamon is a big loss to us because he was a huge character and he was always a very big presence in the dressing-room. It is not easy to replace fellows like the three we have lost because in terms of experience alone you are talking about lads who have 10 All-Ireland medals between them.
"I was looking around the dressing-room recently and I realised that along with myself, there was Kieran (Donaghy), Gooch, Marc Ó Sé and Aidan O'Mahony who are all in our mid-20s and are coming to the peak of our careers now.
"Apart from the lads we have lost this year, we have also lost leaders like Liam Hassett, William Kirby and Johnny Crowley in the last few years, who were huge players.
"It has got to the stage now where it is up to the rest of us, the younger guys who have got a lot of experience in the last few years, to lead the way now."
Another notable inclusion is that of Micheál Quirke in midfield alongside Darragh Ó Sé. Quirke - who, like Kieran Donaghy, is an accomplished basketballer with the Tralee Tigers - has been a panellist for several years but has finally been preferred to Tommy Griffin.
A more familiar selection policy sees Declan Quill excluded from the forward line. Quill, a recognised free-taker, has been a feature in Kerry league teams for several seasons only to fall out of favour come the championship. As recently as the last league outing, a victory over Dublin, he registered six points.
Bryan Sheehan and Darren O'Sullivan also featured at Parnell Park but are edged out by more established attackers. Declan O'Sullivan retains the captaincy in a half-forward line where he is joined by Eoin Brosnan and Paul Galvin.
The game is live on RTÉ 2.
Meath have made two changes from the team that overran Kildare on May 20th for their meeting with Dublin this Sunday at a sold-out Croke Park.
Graham Geraghty comes in for the suspended Brian Farrell, with Joe Sheridan moving to full forward to accommodate the 1999 All-Ireland-winning captain in the corner.
The other alteration was already made at half-time in the Kildare match, with Peter Curran in for Niall McLoughlin.
Laois have named Darren Rooney at centre back for their Leinster football quarter-final against Longford despite the dual star injuring a groin playing hurling against Offaly last Sunday.
Longford show just one change to the team that beat Westmeath on May 13th, as David Barden comes in at corner forward for Pauric Berry in a rejigged attack. Full back Diarmuid Masterson is picked despite a recent injury concern.
The president of the GAA, Nickey Brennan, has expressed his sadness at the death of the former Tipperary hurler and multiple All-Ireland medal winner Kieran Carey. He extended deepest sympathies on behalf of the association to the Carey family and to the Knock, Kyle and Roscrea GAA clubs, with whom Kieran Carey hurled during a distinguished career.
Finally, the Leinster Council have confirmed the following alterations to its published fixture list:
The winners of the Louth v Wicklow second replay on Sunday next will play Wexford on Sunday June 17th in Parnell Park, if Louth win and in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow if Wicklow win.
The semi-final involving the winners of Louth/Wicklow/Wexford against the winners of Laois v Longford is postponed to Sunday, July 1st and will be played in conjunction with the Leinster hurling finals in Croke Park.
KERRY (SFC v Waterford): D Murphy; P Reidy, T O'Sullivan, M Ó Sé; T Ó Sé, A O'Mahony, K Young; Darragh Ó Sé, M Quirke; D O'Sullivan (capt), E Brosnan, P Galvin; C Cooper, K Donaghy, MF Russell.
MEATH (SFC v Dublin): B Murphy; E Harrington, D Fay , N McKeigue; S Kenny, A Moyles (capt), C King; M Ward, N Crawford; P Byrne, K Reilly, P Curran; S Bray, J Sheridan, G Geraghty.
ANTRIM (SHC v Down): R McGarry; M Kettle, M McCambridge, S Delargy (capt); M Molloy, J Campbell, C Herron; B Herron, K McKeegan; P McGill, N McManus, M Herron; S McCrory, J McIntosh, P Shields.
Antrim (SFC v Derry): S McCreevey; T Scullion, P Doherty, K O'Boyle, S McVeigh, G Bell, J Crozier, J Quinn, M McCann, A Gallagher, K Niblock, J Loughrey, CJ McGourty, K Brady, P Cunningham.
LAOIS (SFC v Longford): F Byron; C Ryan, T Kelly, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormack; B Quigley, N Garvan; R Munnelly, C Conway, P Clancy; M Tierney, P Lawlor, B McDonald.
LONGFORD (SFC v Laois): D Sheridan (capt); D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly; S Mulligan, D Hannify, N Farrell; B McElvaney, L Keenan; T Smullen, P Barden, P Dowd; D Barden, K Mulligan, B Kavanagh.
