Goldrick returns to lead Jackies against Kingdom

Fri, 22nd August 2014

TG4 Ladies Senior Championship Quarter Final

Dublin v Kerry

Saturday August 23^rd, 12:30pm

St Brendans Park, Birr

Dublin boss Gregory McGonigle has announced his starting 15 to play Kerry in Saturday’s TG4 Ladies All-Ireland SFC quarter final.

McGonigle has made two adjustments to his back six from that which lined out against Laois in the Leinster final.

Team captain, Sinead Goldrick returns to the heart of the Dublin defence in place of the injured Sinead Finnegan. Finnegan who is struggling to overcome a hamstring injury had been a major concern for Dublin ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Kingdom.

Goldrick did not start the Leinster final versus Laois was introduced as a second half substitute and will make her first start in the championship having missed both the Kildare and Westmeath victories owing to a knee injury.

Another player making a welcome return to championship action following a nasty hand injury is former All Star Siobhan McGrath. McGonigle has named the experienced Thomas Davis defender at left half-back in place of Colleen Barrett.

This season a key factor has been the strength of the bench and Dublin’s two alterations to their starting 15 is a clear indication of how strong their current panel is when two former All Stars can be introduced into the team at this quarter final stage.

Dublin’s lineout has a blend of experience combined with a freshness of youth, nine of the starting 15 all featured in the 2010 All-Ireland win over Tyrone while Martha Byrne, Leah Caffrey, Molly Lamb and Carla Rowe all picked up U21 All Ireland winners medals earlier this season.

It has been three years since Dublin last contested an All-Ireland semi-final having failed to get past Cork (2011), Kerry (2012) and Cork again last year.

Dublin versus Kerry will be shown live on TG4 with coverage commencing at 12 noon.

Dublin LGFA will also have LIVE score updates available via their twitter page @dublinladiesg

DUBLIN: Cliodhna O’Connor, Rachel Ruddy, Sorcha Furlong, Leah Caffrey, Martha Byrne, Sinead Goldrick, Siobhan McGrath, Denise Masterson, Molly Lamb, Noelle Healy, Niamh McEvoy, Carla Rowe, Lyndsey Davey (pictured, above), Sinead Aherne, Lindsay Peat.