Kerry have named their starting fifteen and subs for Sunday’s NFL Division One clash with our lads at McHale Park (throw-in 2pm). The team, rookie manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s first selection for a competitive fixture since being named Kerry boss last autumn, is as follows:

Kerry (NFL Division One v Mayo, 3/2/2013): Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Marc Ó Sé (An Gaeltacht), Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore), Shane Enright (Tarbert); Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion), Jack Sherwood (Firies), Killian Young (Renard); Anthony Maher (Duagh), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes, captain); Michael Geaney (Dingle), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Michael O’Donoghue (Spa); Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys), Patrick Curtin (Moyvane), Paul Geaney (Dingle). Subs:  Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion), Bryan Sheehan (St Marys), Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers), David Culhane (Ballylongford), Brian Maguire (Listowel Emmets), Conor Cox (Listowel Emmets), Andrew Garnett (Spa), Barry John Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys), Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), Shane O’Carroll (Austin Stacks), Darragh O’Sullivan (Dingle).

That list contains a fair few unfamiliar names but of the starting fifteen that’s been named only two players – centre-back Jack Sherwood and half-forward Michael O’Donoghue – are set to make their Kerry debuts on Sunday. The very helpful article on the Kerry GAA website announcing the team selection (linked above) notes that both of the newcomers were on the victorious All-Ireland Junior winning team of last year (yes, I can recall too whom they beat in that decider) while the latter also holds an U21 All-Ireland winner’s medal from back in 2008, where he bagged two goals in that year’s decider.

That same article also provides a useful update on the several (far more familiar) names that are unavailable for selection on Sunday, due to a combination of injuries, club championship commitments and sundry excuses. Tony Leen in this morning’s Irish Examiner reckoned that the Yerras are missing a full team this weekend, which over-eggs the situation a bit, but they are certainly travelling to Castlebar without a number of their marquee performers.

In that piece by Tony Leen, it’s also stated that Alan Dillon is unlikely to line out for us and that there are doubts over Keith Higgins and Ger Cafferkey. That’s a bit of an All-Star mini-crisis, isn’t it? We’re set to name our team for Sunday at some stage tomorrow.