Four debuts as Leitrim name team to face Mayo in Connacht SFC

Leitrim's team to face Mayo in the Connacht SFC Semi-Final in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Saturday will fear four debutants with the potential for a lot more with nine players named among the subs who have never played championship football for the Green & Gold as manager Steven Poacher has revealed his first selection for the championship.

Keeper Daire O'Shea, defender Eanna McNamara and forwards Paul Honeyman and Darren Cox make their first ever start in the Connacht Senior Championship - Cox had seen action in last year's Tailteann Cup but Saturday's game will be his first Provincial championship action while Honeyman was aged-barred last year despite starring for the County U20 side.

However, there is great news with the return of Glencar Manorhamilton's Barry McNulty and Leitrim Gaels' Donal Casey to the starting line-up after a long period out with injury while Melvin Gaels' Cillian McGloin, who made his first start in two seasons against Sligo in the Allianz League, is also named in the starting line-up.

The injury crisis afflicting Leitrim over the past few months is reflected in an inexperienced bench with Leitrim Gaels' Brian Cull, Shane Finn and Paddy Keane, Mohill's Ryan Bohan & Jack Rowley, Drumkeerin's David Feeney, Melvin Gaels' Joe McGloin, Fenagh St Caillins' Conal McGovern and Glencar Manorhamilton's Tom Hughes all named to their first championship panel, McGovern, Finn, Feeney and Bohan all seeing action during the League.

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins, Leitrim Gaels, Melvin Gaels and Glencar Manorhamilton all have two players named in the starting line-up with 11 clubs in total, including St Mochta's in Louth, represented in the selection with County champions Mohill represented by Keith Keegan.

POACHER KNOW SCALE OF CHALLENGE FACING LEITRIM AGAINST MAYO

In other championship news, it has been revealed that tonight's (Friday April 18) Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Championship game between Sligo and Leitrim in Kilcoyne Park Tubbercurry will also act as the Provincial Minor Shield Final. Both counties would have been scheduled to meet in the B Final next week but an agreement was made to count tonight's final game as the Shield Final.

The match carries some significance as the winner will play in the All-Ireland Minor Tier 2 series with the loser going into the Tier 3 series later in the Summer.

Also, Connacht GAA have confirmed that Kiltoom will host next Wednesday's Dalata Hotels Connacht U20 Shield Final between Leitrim and Galway. The winner will progressed to the All-Ireland B series with the season ending for the losing team.

The full Leitrim squad to face Galway is as follows:

1. Daire O'Shea (St Mochta's Louth)
2. Kieran Clancy (Melvin Gaels)
3. Donal Casey (Leitrim Gaels)
4. Eanna McNamara (Aughavas
5. James Rooney (Glencar Manorhamilton)
6. Mark Diffley (St Mary's Kiltoghert)
7. Jack Foley (Kiltubrid)
8. Barry McNulty (Glencar Manorhamilton)
9. Cillian McGloin (Melvin Gaels)
10. Jack Flynn (Leitrim Gaels)
11. Keith Keegan (Mohill)
12. Paul Honeyman (Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins)
13. Darren Cox (Annaduff)
14. Riordan O'Rourke (Fenagh St Caillins)
15. Tom Prior (Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins)
16. Brian Cull (Leitrim Gaels)
17. Ryan Bohan (Mohill)
18. Tom Hughes (Glencar Manorhamilton)
19. David Feeney (Drumkeerin)
20. Conal McGovern (Fenagh St Caillins)
21. Shane Finn (Leitrim Gaels)
22. Keelan McHugh (Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins)
23. Jack Rowley (Mohill)
24. Paddy Keane (Leitrim Gaels)
25. Ben Guckian (St Mary's Kiltoghert)
26. Joe McGloin (Melvin Gaels)