Youth over experience seems to be the determining factor for Kerry football manager PaidI O Se in naming a panel of 24 players for the second series of National Football League matches, which resume next month.
There will now be eight players in the panel from the under-21 side which lost the All-Ireland final to Westmeath last April, including Enda Galvin, Tom Griffin and Tom O'Sullivan - all of whom will be regular senior panelists for the first time. Also taking up his first regular spot is midfielder Kenneth Dillon from Castleisland-Desmonds.
This in turn means that there is no place for Eamon Breen, Barry O'Shea, Killian Burns, William Kirby and Billy O'Shea, all part of the championship side which lost to Cork in the Munster final last July.
Pa Laide, who has been injured, and Brian Clarke, dropped a year ago, are also unable to find a way back in.
Returning to the panel after periods of injury are Dara O'Cinneide and Dara O'Se and keeping their places are Seamas Moynihan, John Crowley, Maurice Fitzgerald and the Hassett brothers, Liam and Mike.
The most significant absence will be that of Breen, a regular at left-half-back who first came to prominence when helping Kerry to the Munster title in 1991. Kerry return to league action against Armagh on February 13th. The team this year will be captained by Seamas Moynihan.
Laois will welcome back Colm Parkinson at midfield for their trip to Bunclody to meet Wexford in the second round of the O'Byrne Cup this Sunday. This will be the first senior outing for the Portlaoise man in nine months. Manager Tom Cribbin includes the experienced Michael Lawlor and Hugh Emerson among the forwards. There will be a debut for Aidan Fennelly, with Paul Dunne also moving up from the under-21 side.
Elsewhere, Carlow will stay with the same team that beat Wicklow for their meeting with Offaly. There is a slight doubt over Jody Morrissey, who is carrying a shoulder injury. Offaly, winners two years ago and who benefited from a first-round bye, will see the return of Ciaran McManus.
Defending champions Dublin will travel to Pearce Park to meet Longford but won't be naming their team until after training tonight. Manager Tom Carr should have a full panel to choose from, except for Ian Robertson who has a broken leg. Longford also have a full panel to choose from.
The Dublin County Board, meanwhile, are still trying to finalise their new sponsorship agreement as the current deal with Arnotts is set to expire at the end of next summer.
John Egan, recently reappointed as county chairman said they hoped to conclude the negotiations in the next few weeks. The question is whether Dublin will strike another deal with Arnotts or bring a new body on board, believed to be a major sportshop chain.
Teams
Kerry (SF Panel): J Crowley, D Daly, K Dillon, D O'Dwyer, M Fitzgerald, E Fitzmaurice, E Galvin, T Griffin, L Hassett; M Hassett, N Kennelly, A McGerailt, M McCarthy, D McGlynn, S Moynihan, D O'Cinneide, D O'Keeffe, P O'Leary, D O'Se, T O'Se, P O'Sullivan, S O'Sullivan, T O'Sullivan, MF Russell.
Carlow (SF v Offaly): J Clarke; B Farrell, A Corden, V Fleming; C Kelly, S O'Brien, J Kavanagh; J Morrissey, P Nolan; P Kingston, S Kavanagh, P Nolan; J Nevin, R Donnelly, A Kavanagh.
Offaly: K Furlong; C Daly, E Egan, J Brady; J Kilmurray, S Grennan, F Cullen; J Grennan, J Greene; R Malone, C Quinn, C McManus; D Ryan, M Kenahan, D Connolly.
Laois (SF v Wexford): G Dunne; G Ramsbottom, T Kelly, JP Keogh; D Conroy, E Delaney, A Fennelly; J Kealy, C Parkinson; D Sweeney, P Langton, M Lawlor; H Emerson, P Dunne, C Conway.
