By Peter McNamara
The Kerry Minor Football Team to play Tipperary in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Championship Final in Croke Park on Sunday next shows two personnel and a number of positional changes from the side that defeated Derry in the Semi Final – Tom O’Sullivan and Captain, Mark O’Connor, come into the side at corner back and midfield respectively, Andrew Barry reverts to centre back with Mike Breen and Daniel O’Brien the players to lose out.
The team, captained by Dingle’s Conor Geaney, is as follows:
1. Billy Courtney Dr. Crokes
2. Darren Brosnan Gneeveguilla
3. Jason Foley Ballydonoghue
4. Tom O’Sullivan Dingle
5. Jack Morgan Austin Stacks
6. Andrew Barry Na Gaeil
7. Gavin White Dr. Crokes
8. Mark O’Connor (C) Dingle
9. John Mark Foley Kilgarvan
10. Brian Ó Seanacháin Ballydonoghue
11. Sean O’Shea Kenmare
12. Brandon Barrett Ardfert
13. Michael Foley Spa
14. Bryan Sweeney Listowel Emmets
15. Conor Geaney Dingle
Fir Ionaid
16. Eoghan O’Brien Churchill
17. Mike Breen Beaufort
18. Daniel O’Brien Glenflesk
19. Stephen O’Sullivan Templenoe
20. Dara O’Shea Kenmare
21. James Duggan John Mitchels
22. Graham O’Sullivan Dromid Pearses
23. Ronan Buckley Listry
24. Evan Cronin Spa
Additional Players on the Kerry Minor Panel
Jack Goulding (Ballyduff), David Shaw (Dr Crokes), Niall Collins (Listowel Emmets), David Roche (Milltown-Castlemaine), Michael Reidy (Ballymacelligott), Ferdia O’Brien (Austin Stacks),
Injured Player: Cormac Linnane (Beale),
Bainistíocht:
Bainisteoir: Jack O’Connor (Dromid Pearses)
Roghnoirí: Micheál O’Shea (Castlegregory), Eamon Whelan (St Senans).
Treanalaí: Alan O’Sullivan and Arthur Fitzgerald.
Captain: Mark O’Connor (Dingle)
Kitman: Ger O’ Mahony,
Physio: Kieran O’Shea,
Liaison Officer: Christy Killeen
The Kerry team contains just two of the side that defeated Donegal in the All Ireland Minor Final last year – Andrew Barry and Mark O’Connor. Both Jason Foley and Jack Morgan, substitutes last year, are named in the full back line while Stephen O’Sullivan, who was introduced as a sub in all of Kerry’s games last year is listed among the substitutes.
When these two sides met in the Munster Final in Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney on July 5th, Kerry won by 2-14 to 1-11 having led by 2-8 to 0-6 at half time.
Mark O’Connor and Conor Geaney both have 2 Hogan Cup All Ireland Colleges Medals and 3 Corn Uí Mhuirí Munster Colleges medals won with Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne. Mark was Man of the Match in both Hogan Cup victories – against St Pats Maghera in 2014 and Roscommon CBS 2015. Tom O’Sullivan was also on the 2015 PSCD side.