8 TG4 All-Ireland Final starters in Dublin team for 2019 Lidl NFL Division 1 opener against Donegal

DUBLIN manager Mick Bohan has named eight of the team that lined out in last September’s TG4 All-Ireland Senior Final victory over Cork for tomorrow’s (SAT) Lidl National Football League Division 1 opener against Donegal at Croke Park (5pm, eir sport).

With captain Sinéad Aherne not listed in the matchday squad, goalkeeper Ciara Trant will skipper the Sky Blues as they begin the defence of their League crown.

Trant, Martha Byrne, Niamh Collins, Olwen Carey, Siobhán McGrath, Carla Rowe, Nicole Owens and Niamh McEvoy all started against Cork in the 2018 TG4 All-Ireland decider.

Regular starters Lauren Magee and Lyndsey Davey are named among the substitutes but 2018 TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Aherne, Sinead Goldrick, Leah Caffrey, Sinead Finnegan and Noelle Healy are not listed, as Bohan runs the rule over an extended panel.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer international Siobhán Killeen, who scored 5-4 in the 2018 All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final for Clontarf, is on the bench while clubmate Sarah Fagan, who captained the team, is handed the chance to impress at left-half-back.

Rachel Ruddy, a winner of two All-Ireland senior medals and two All Star awards, is on the bench after returning to the squad following a year away.

Opponents Donegal will be without the services of Yvonne Bonner, who is on a stint with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Women’s AFL.

Boss Maxi Curran has six players listed who started Donegan’s last competitive fixture – the 2018 TG4 All-Ireland semi-final loss to Cork.

All Star Treasa Doherty, Nicole McLaughlin, Katy Herron, Niamh Hegarty, skipper Karen Guthrie and ace scorer Geraldine McLauughlin will bring much-needed experience to Croke Park on Saturday evening.

Dublin team: 

1 Ciara Trant St Brigids
2 Martha Byrne Cuala
3 Niamh Collins Foxrock Cabinteely
4 Emma McDonagh Foxrock Cabinteely
5 Aoife Kane Kilmacud Crokes
6 Olwen Carey Thomas Davis
7 Sarah Fagan Clontarf
8 Jennifer Dunne Cuala
9 Siobhán McGrath Thomas Davis
10 Carla Rowe Clann Mhuire
11 Kate Fitzgibbon Clontarf
12 Éabha Rutledge Kilmacud Crokes
13 Siobhán Woods Raheny
14 Nicole Owens St Sylvesters
15 Niamh McEvoy St Sylvesters

Donegal team: 

1 Aislin Nee St Eunans
2 Tara Hegarty Moville
3 Emer Gallagher Termon
4 Evelyn McGinley Cloughaneely
5 Treasa Doherty Carndonagh
6 Nicole McLaughlin Termon
7 Niamh Carr Milford
8 Katy Herron Glenfin
9 Niamh Boyle St Nauls
10 Karen Guthrie Glenfin
11 Niamh Hegarty Moville
12 Amy Boyle Carr N. Conaill
13 Geraldine McLaughlin Termon
14 Megan Ryan Milford
15 Ciara Grant Na Fianna

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