By:
Conor Martin
Dublin welcome Donegal to Croke Park on Saturday evening for their Allianz Football League opener (5pm throw-in, live on TG4), with Ger Brennan’s team having a distinctly new-look edge.
Robert Shaw and Eoin Kennedy are poised to make eye-catching defensive debuts for Dublin this weekend, while Evan Comerford has been recalled to mind the net as Ger Brennan names his first competitive Dubs selection.
Dublin introduce new faces ahead of league opener against Donegal
In total, only 10 players from Dublin’s most recent championship outing last June’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone feature in the matchday squad, with seven included in the starting 15 and three listed among the substitutes.
For Shaw, it’s a long-awaited step up. The defender has been on the radar before, having lined out in the O’Byrne Cup under Dessie Farrell four years ago, but Saturday marks his first proper senior league start at headquarters, in front of a national audience and against top-level opposition.
With all eyes on them on TV, it remains to be seen whether the Dublin players will also follow through with their planned Allianz protest this weekend after the GAA decide to keep Allianz as a sponsor.
https://twitter.com/DubGAAOfficial/status/2014444874372657325
Kennedy also arrives with serious momentum, having been part of Cuala’s All-Ireland club success and will now look to translate that pedigree to inter-county football in Dublin blue.
Brennan has also sprinkled fresh faces across his bench, signalling a willingness to widen the depth chart early in the campaign. Páidí White and Seán Guiden, both of St Sylvester’s, are included, alongside Kevin Stephenson (Castleknock) and Jack Lundy (Ballinteer St John’s).
With new combinations being tested and places up for grabs, Saturday should offer an early snapshot of where Brennan wants to take this Dublin side and whether they’ll be in contention to win their 15th league title this year
Dublin team to play Donegal
Dublin: Evan Comerford; (Ballymun Kickhams), Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna), Seán MacMahon (Raheny), David Byrne (Naomh Olaf); Robert Shaw (Castleknock), Nathan Doran (Clontarf), Eoin Kennedy (Cuala); Ethan Dunne (Skerries Harps), Tom Lahiff (St. Jude’s); Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps), Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street), Brian Howard (Raheny); Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams), Con O’Callaghan (Cuala), Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street)
Substitutes: Hugh O’Sullivan (Ballyboden St. Enda’s), Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps), Eoghan O’Callaghan (Cuala), Conor Tyrrell (St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh), Páidí White (St. Sylvester’s), Cian O’Connor (Kilmacud Crokes), Kevin Stephenson (Castleknock), Luke Breathnach (Ballinteer St. John’s), Seán Guiden (St. Sylvester’s), Seán Bugler (St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh), Jack Lundy (Ballinteer St. John’s)
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