The Roscommon team to face Tyrone in the Allianz Football League on Sunday has been announced and it shows six changes from the side that started in the FBD League Final defeat to Galway.
Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
Seánie McDermott is set to play his 158th game for the Roscommon team and this week he will wear the number 11 Jersey although whether he’ll line out there remains to be seen. Colm Lavin takes over the number 1 Jersey to makes his first Allianz League start as does full back Thomas Featherston and Tadhg O’Rourke, who partners Kevin Higgins at midfield. The squad in full is as follows:
1. Colm Lavin (Éire Óg)
2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
3. Thomas Featherston (Oran)
4. Niall McInerney (St Brigid’s)
5. Ronan Stack (St Brigids)
6. Seán Mullooly (Strokestown)
7. Conor Devaney (Kilbride)
8. Kevin Higgins (Western Gaels)
9. Tadhg O’Rourke (Tulsk)
10. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
11. Seán McDermott (Western Gaels)
12. Enda Smith (Boyle)
13. Donie Smith (Boyle)
14. Ultan Harney (Clann na nGael
15. Ciaráin Murtagh (C) (St Faithleachs)
Subs
16 Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)
17 Paddy Brogan (Strokestown)
18 Ciaran Cafferkey (Western Gaels)
19 Cian Connolly (Roscomon Gaels)
20 Tom Corcoran (Strokestown)
21 Fintan Cregg (Elphin)
22 Shane Killoran (Elphin)
23 Niall Kilroy (Fuerty)
24 John McManus (Roscommon Gaels)
25 Brian Murtagh (St Faithleachs)
26 Gary Patterson (Michael Glaveys)
The starting 15 seems to indicate that the Roscommon team will play counter-attacking football with the half-forward line dropping back to cover the on-rushing half backs. Tyrone won a sixth successive Dr McKenna Cup title last Saturday night with a 2-13 to 1-7 victory over Derry.