Preview: Saturdays All-Ireland SFC action:
Saturday 17th May

All-Ireland SFC, Round 1

Group 2
Kerry v Roscommon in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney at 2.30pm, GAA+

With David Clifford in the form of his career, Sean O’Shea fit again and the Geaneys running amok, Kerry will take some stopping.

The Allianz League Division 1 champions will be at home again too, returning to Killarney where they beat Clare 4-20 to 0-21 in the Munster final.

Five-time All-Star Clifford averaged 10 points per game in Munster and, in all, has hit 5-44 in seven starts so far this year.

Kerry’s forwards generally are thriving, striking seven goals in their last two games. Barry Dan O’Sullivan is thriving at midfield and partners up with the returning Diarmuid O’Connor.

Goalkeeper Shane Ryan and O’Connor missed the Clare game but both return to the lineup, for Shane Murphy and Tony Brosnan, while Graham O’Sullivan and Paul Murphy are fit again for bench duty. Paudie Clifford doesn’t make the 26 despite being available after suspension.

Roscommon comfortably took care of London in a Connacht quarter-final before losing to Galway by nine points. Boss Davy Burke has shaken up his lineup, drafting in defenders Senan Lambe, Ronan Daly and John McManus, midfielder Keith Doyle and attackers Dylan Ruyane, Conor Hand and Daire Cregg.

KERRY: Shane Ryan; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Barry Dan O’Sullivan; Joe O’Connor, Sean O’Shea, Micheal Burns; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Tony Brosnan, Armin Heinrich, Paul Murphy, Graham O’Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Mark O’Shea, Conor Geaney, Evan Looney, Sean O’Brien, Damien Bourke, Ruairi Murphy.

ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; Niall Higgins, Brian Stack, David Murray; Senan Lambe, Ronan Daly, John McManus; Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle; Dylan Ruane, Enda Smith, Conor Hand; Daire Cregg, Ben O’Carroll, Ciarain Murtagh. Subs: Aaron Brady, Pearse Frost, Tim Lambe, Colm Neary, Shane Killoran, Shane Cunnane, Conor Cox, Declan Kenny, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciaran Lennon, James Fitzpatrick.

Group 4

Galway v Dublin in Pearse Stadium, Salthill at 5pm, GAA+

This will be Dublin’s first game since relinquishing the Leinster SFC title after 14 successful seasons, losing last month to Meath at the semi-final stage.

That was three weeks ago and they have benefited from the return of a number of players from injury in the meantime. Fit again Cian Murphy starts for Dublin in defence, the only change from the team that started against Meath. Sean Bugler hasn’t made the 26 though Sean MacMahon and Luke Breathnach are fit enough for places on the bench.

It is still a giant challenge for Dessie Farrell’s crew who are desperate to prove that the Meath loss was a mere speed wobble.

Dublin beat Galway at Croke Park in the league, in mid-March, but struggled to contain Damien Comer when he came on that evening. Comer, significantly, isn’t fit to feature in the 26 this time but Shane Walsh returns in the only change to their lineup.

Rob Finnerty, Matthew Tierney, Paul Conroy and Cillian McDaid will hope to deliver again like they did in the Connacht final defeat of Roscommon.

It won’t get any easier for either team beyond this weekend as Armagh and Derry are also in Group 4. So a fast start and a Round 1 win will be viewed as vital.

GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean O Maoilchiarain, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cein Darcy, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Rob Finnerty, Matthew Thompson. Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel O’Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Kieran Molloy, Sean Fitzgerald, John Daly, Sam O’Neill, Cathal Sweeney, Liam O Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Peter Cooke.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Conor Tyrrell; Cian Murphy, John Small, Brian Howard; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully, Lorcan O’Dell, Ciaran Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Costello, Nathan Doran, Alex Gavin, Davy Keogh, Sean MacMahon, Greg McEneaney, Killian McGinnis, Brian O’Leary, Dan O’Leary.