Previews: All-Ireland U21 Championship Games
Previews: All-Ireland U21 Championship Games
Previews: All-Ireland U21 Championship Games
There's action this evening in Connacht, Munster and Ulster in the EirGrid All-Ireland U21 Football Championship, with a total of four games taking place. See previews and fixture details below.
Click here for a guide to the 2015 All-Ireland U21 Football Championship
FIXTURES
Wednesday, March 11
Connacht U21 Football Championship Preliminary Round
Mayo v Leitrim, Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, 7.30pm
Munster U21 Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Limerick v Cork, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pmClare v Waterford, Milltown Malbay, 7.30pm
Ulster U21 Football Championship Preliminary Round
Derry v Down, Celtic Park, 8pm
PREVIEWS
Mayo v Leitrim, Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, 7.30pm
The Connacht U21 Football Championship gets underway on Wednesday evening, as Leitrim - last year's surprise finalists - take on Mayo, who are seeking a first U21 provincial title since 2009.
Mayo's recent record at this level is poor, and last year they suffered a crushing defeat at this stage (4-10 to 1-8) to eventual All-Ireland finalists Roscommon. However, with many of the 2013 All-Ireland minor winners now a year older and stronger, hopes are reasonably high for Niall Heffernan's squad in 2015.
Senior panellists Stephen Coen, Patrick Durcan, Michael Hall and Diarmuid O'Connor were all released to the U21 panel ahead of the seniors' Allianz League game against Derry last weekend, while Morgan Lyons and Adam Gallagher were released earlier. Hall, Coen and O'Connor were all All-Ireland minor winners in 2013, and that trio will be vital as Mayo look to get back to winning ways at U21 level. Val Roughneen and David Kenny also won All-Ireland minor medals in 2013.
Leitrim caused a monumental shock in last year's Connacht U21 campaign when they defeated Galway in the semi-final, 0-9 to 0-8. They are managed by the county's senior boss Shane Ward, and he told the Leitrim Observer that things were going well ahead of the game.
"Apart from a couple of colds and flus which is par for the course we're going well. We have no injury worries looking into the game," he said. "We have a couple of boys carried in from last year's team so they understand the way we operate and we have a couple of newcomers from the minor squad last year and they have given us great impetus, pace and power going forward and we are lucky to have them. We have a good squad and they're gelling together well."
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MAYO: Matthew Flanagan (Balla); Michael Hall (Breaffy), David Kenny (Aghamore), James Stretton (Claremorris); Seán Regan (Ballina Stephenites), Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels); Diarmuid O'Connor (Ballintubber), TJ Byrne (Kiltimagh); Val Roughneen (Balla), Adam Gallagher (Mayo Gaels), Darren McHale (Knockmore); Cian Burke (Ballymun Kickhams), Brian Reape (Bohola Moy Davitts), James Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels).
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Limerick v Cork, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm
Cork are going for their fifth consecutive Munster U21 title this season, something never previously achieved by the Rebel County. They are managed by Nemo Rangers clubman Seán Hayes, who guided them to last year's triumph.
Goalkeeper Michéal Martin, defenders Jamie Davis, Stephen Cronin, Sean White, Kevin Crowley and senior midfielder Ian Maguire were all part of Cork's successful U21 side last season, and they are all included in Hayes' line-up for this evening's game. Cork senior defender Brian O'Driscoll is named on the bench.
It's a totally new look attack though, with Mark Sugrue and Alan Cadogan among the star names no longer available to Hayes. In their absence, much will depend on talented Nemo centre-half-forward Conor Horgan and senior panellist Cathal Vaughan (Iveleary).
Limerick manager Declan Brouder has named his side for the game, and the Treaty County will be captained by St Patrick's clubman Gearóid Hegarty.
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LIMERICK: James O'Meara (Fr Casey's); Shane Cusack (Monaleen), Stephen Cahill (Mountcollins) Sean Barrett (Bruff); Chris Smith (Fr. Casey's), Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford) Tony McCarthy (Kildimo/Pallaskenry); William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick's); Evan Quinlan (Monaleen), Cian Sheehan (Newcastlewest) Killian Ryan (Mungret); Kevin Moore (Glin) Jack English (Adare), Jason Mullins (St Patrick's).
CORK: Michéal Martin (Nemo Rangers); Dylan Quinn (St. Finbarrs), Jamie Davis (Douglas); Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers); Tomas O'Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Sean White (Clonakilty), Kevin Crowley (Millstreet); Darragh Murphy (Valley Rovers), Ian Maguire (St. Finbarrs); Alan O'Donovan (Nemo Rangers), Conor Horgan (Nemo Rangers), Ryan Harkin (Mallow); Cathal Vaughan (Ivyleary), Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael), Sean O'Donoghue (Inniscarra).
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Clare v Waterford, Milltown Malbay, 7.30pm
Clare have included six senior panellists in their team to face Waterford at Milltown Malbay on Wednesday evening, with midfielder Jamie Malone (Corofin) and inside forward Martin O'Leary (Kilmihil) key men for a county that has never previously won the Munster U21 title.
Waterford have included Rathgormack quintet Conor Walsh, Michael Curry, Jason Curry, Conor Murray and Jason Gleeson in their side, with Gaultier goalkeeper David Whitty captaining the Déise. The winners of this game will face Tipperary in the Munster semi-final on March 18.
CLARE: Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Cian O'Mahony (Doonbeg), Jack O'Dea (Kilfenora), Conor Brennan (Éire Óg); Darren Nagle (Liscannor), Conor O'Brien (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield), Cian O'Dea (Kilfenora); Dara Walsh (Éire Óg), Jamie Malone (Corofin); Liam Corry (Éire Óg), Paddy O'Malley (Éire Óg), Dale Masterson (St Breckan's); Martin O'Leary (Kilmihil), Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg).
WATERFORD: David Whitty (Gaultier); Stephen Dalton (De La Salle), Conor Walsh (Rathgormack), Jamie de Barún (An Rinn); Jack Mullaney (Stradbally), Tom Devine (Modeligo), Jonathan Fenton (Bunmahon); Dermot Ryan (The Nire), Séamus Keating (Ardmore); Michael Curry (Rathgormack), Ferghal Ó Cuirrín (An Rinn), Jason Curry (Rathgormack); Conor Murray (Rathgormack), Jason Gleeson (Rathgormack), Conor Gleeson (The Nire).
Derry v Down, Celtic Park, 8pm
Derry are without a host of key figures for their Ulster U21 premliminary round clash at home to Down on Wednesday night. Cormac O'Doherty, Gerard Bradley and Brendan Rogers are all with Slaughtneil, preparing for the All-Ireland club final, while Ciarán McFaul and Conor Carville will both miss out through injury.
Derry are managed by Paul McIver, son of senior team manager Brian, and this season they will be hoping to improve on a poor recent record in the competition - they haven't won the title since 1997, with their last final appearance coming in 2008.
Down are managed by Frank Dawson, current manager of the Bryansford senior football team and former manager of the Antrim senior footballers.
Previews: Arthur Sullivan