Sticking to a similar script to that which they worked off against the Regional All Stars on Monday night last, Colm O’Rourke has named a largely experimental line up with a smattering of experienced players included for Saturday’s match in Cork in memory of the late, great Teddy McCarthy.
The action in Pairc Ui Chaoimh gets underway at 3.00pm with the Rebel County and the Royals lock horns in honour of their doing so 33 years ago in the Sam Maguire Cup Final. Thereafter, the hurlers of Cork and Galway will reprise the hurling Final of that same year. Wherein Teddy Mc created his own piece of history that is highly unlikely to ever be recreated by being the first and so far only player to win All Ireland senior hurling and football medals in the same year.
If ever you wanted proof that everything in life happens for a reason consider the following – in the year Teddy passed away, his hurling club, Sarsfields, won the Cork county championship and the football club with which he lined out, Glanmire, won the Cork and Munster Ladies IFC titles.
Still inspiring, even from afar. For that reason, you’d hope the Pairc will draw a mighty crowd to honour the great man. For their part, the Meath team includes regulars Sean Brennan, Ronan Jones, Jack Flynn, Mat Costello and Aaron Lynch while newer faces such as Michael Murphy, Niall Murphy, Jack Kinlough and Ruairi Kinsella get another chance to stake their claim for inclusion in the National League panel.
MEATH – Sean Brennan (Dunderry); Niall Murphy (Curraha), Michael Flood (St Brigid’s), Michael Murphy (St Peter’s, Dunboyne); Ciaran Caulfield (Trim), Ronan Jones (St Peter’s, Dunboyne), Sean Coffey (Ballinabrackey); Jack Kinlough (St Peter’s, Dunboyne), Jack Flynn (Ratoath);Daithi McGowan (Ratoath), Ruairi Kinsella (Dunshaughlin), Jack O’Connor (Curraha); Aaron Lynch (Trim), Mat Costello (Dunshaughlin), Eoghan Frayne (Summerhill).
SUBS – Harry Hogan (Longwood), James Conlon (St Colmcille’s), Diarmuid Moriarity (Curraha), Mark Coffey (Ballinabrackey), John O’Regan (Skryne), Conor Farrelly (Walterstown), Brian O’Reilly (St Michael’s), Keith Curtis (Rathkenny), Adam McDonnell (Summerhill)