U20 footballers name side for Longford encounter

Dublin travel to Longford tonight (Tuesday) to face their hosts in the EirGrid Leinster U20FC quarter-final in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park (7.30).

The Dubs, managed by Tom Gray, will be led by joint-captains Ballyboden St Enda's Kieran Kennedy and Na Fianna's James Doran.

Both players were key members of the Dublin minor (U18) side that captured the Leinster MFC title in 2017.

Eleven players who are named to start against Longford featured in the Leinster MFC final two years ago - nine from the start with two others being introduced from the bench as Dublin defeated Louth (2-19 to 0-12).

The nine that started are David O'Hanlon, Darren Maher, Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne (pictured, above), Kieran Kennedy, Neil Matthews, Eoin O'Dea, Donal Ryan, James Doran and Ross McGarry with Ciarán Archer and Karl Lynch Bissett coming on as substitutes.

Dublin selected without the injured trio of Liam Flatman, Luke Doran and Eamon Conroy. Flatman played for the seniors in this year's league, impressing in their 1-15 to 0-7 victory over Galway in Croke Park in early February but shortly after suffered a serious hamstring injury and has yet to return to competitive action.

The other quarter-finals, also on Tuesday night, will see Meath host Offaly in Navan, Louth play Wexford in Drogheda and Westmeath face Laois in Mullingar.

There were three first-round games with the following outcomes - Laois toppled Kildare 0-17 to 1-11 in Newbridge, Offaly outclassed Carlow 3-22 to 2-4 in Cullen Park, Carlow and Wexford overcame Wicklow 1-14 to 2-7 in Bellefield, Enniscorthy.

Last year Dublin's U20 footballers defeated Longford in Championship action (2-21 to 0-11), Westmeath (2-16 to 1-13) and Wexford (1-15 to 1-11) in Group 1 then they overcame Meath (4-16 to 2-10) in the Leinster semi-final before losing to eventual All-Ireland champions Kildare (1-15 to 0-10) in the provincial final.

Of the starting 15 for Tuesday night the following gained U20FC experience last summer - David O'Hanlon, Kieran Kennedy, Neil Matthews, Eoin O'Dea, Donal Ryan, James Doran, Ciarán Archer, Karl Lynch Bissett and Ross McGarry while James Madden would also be eligible this year but signed an extension to his Australian Football League contract with Brisbane Lions earlier this year.

Dublin prepared for the U20 Championship by playing in the recent John Kerins Cup (U20 Football Development League) where they were grouped with Galway, Cork, Kerry and Kildare.

The Dubs finished in third spot behind winners, unbeaten Galway, and second-placed Cork (Kerry and Kildare did not fulfil their concluding fixture against each other).

Dublin defeated Kildare (2-14 to 0-14, St Conleth's Park, Newbridge), drew with Cork (1-18 each, Laois Centre of Excellence, Portlaoise), lost to Kerry (0-7 to 1-7, Claughaun, Limerick) and lost to Galway (1-7 to 2-17, Duggan Park, Ballinasloe). 

Longford played in another of the U20 Football Development Leagues when they competed in the Philly McGuinness Cup where they defeated Leitrim (3-14 to 2-11) in their opening game before suffered narrow defeats to both Sligo (1-12 to 0-13) and Fermanagh (0-11 to 1-7).

This Saturday Dubiln's minor footballers face Kildare in the Electric Ireland Leinster MFC final in Pairc Tailteann, Navan (2.0).

DUBLIN (U20FC v Longford)

1 David O'Hanlon Na Fianna

2 Darren Maher St Patrick's, Donabate 

3 Daire Newcombe Lucan Sarsfields 

4 Eoin O'Dea Na Fianna 

5 Kieran Kennedy Ballyboden St Enda's

6 Neil Matthews Erin's Isle 

7 Seán Lambe St Vincent’s 

8 Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne Cuala

9 Donal Ryan Na Fianna 

10 Niall O'Leary Kilmacud Crokes

11 Karl Lynch Bissett Naomh Mearnóg

12 James Doran Na Fianna 

13 Brian O'Leary Na Fianna

14 Ciarán Archer St Maur's 

15 Ross McGarry Ballyboden St Enda's