No change for Leitrim as Steven Poacher names team to face Kildare in Tailteann Cup

Captain Mark Diffley leads the Leitrim team in the parade before the Mayo game Picture: Willie Donnellan

placeholder image — Captain Mark Diffley leads the Leitrim team in the parade before the Mayo game Picture: Willie Donnellan

Tailteann Cup: Five U20 stars set to start while return of Mohill trio and St Mary's Adam Reynolds adds strength to Green & Gold bench ahead of Newbridge encounter

Leitrim manager Steven Poacher has named an unchanged starting 15 for Saturday’s Tailteann Cup clash with Kildare tomorrow (Saturday) in Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.

After pushing Mayo all the way in a 0-20 to 0-13 Connacht Semi-Final loss, Poacher keeps faith with the team that started that encounter although there are two changes in the subs with Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins’ Paul Honeyman and Leitrim Gaels’ Paddy Keane, who both came on in that game, not named in the match day 26.

The starting line-up does include four members of the County U20 squad who face into an All-Ireland U20 B Semi-Final next Wednesday against Mayo with Eanna McNamara, Jack Foley, Ben Guckian and Darren Cox named to start with fellow U20 squad members Honeyman and keeper Brian Cull not named to start.

There is some good news for the Leitrim manager with the return of Mohill trio Sean & Evan Harkin and Conor Quinn and St Mary’s Kiltoghert’s Adam Reynolds to the subs’ bench as does Fenagh St Caillin’s Eoin McLoughlion.

Glenfarne Kiltyclogher goalkeeper Stephen McPartland is a new addition to the squad as sub keeper while Tom Hughes (Glencar Manorhamilton) and Joe McGloin (Melvin Gaels) who both saw action in the Mayo game are included on the bench.

BLISTERING GALWAY START BLOWS LEITRIM AWAY

Kildare manager Brian Flanagan has named a strong squad for Saturday’s game with just seven of the Lilywhites team who defeated Leitrim 1-27 to 0-7 in February retaining their places in the starting line-up. Flanagan’s team features Darragh Kirwin at full-forward and Jimmy Hyland in the corner with Kevin Flynn on the bench.

The full Leitrim squad to face Kildare is as follows: