Sammon names team for hurlers’ opening league game against London

Roscommon senior hurling manager Kevin Sammon has named his team for his first Allianz League game in charge of the “Primrose and Blue”.

There are senior league debuts for goalkeeper Brendan Quinn and full-forward Seán Canning, while Conor Cosgrove returns to the team at centre-back.

There are five players from county champions, Four Roads, included in the starting 15 — James Dillon, Adam Donnelly (captain), Jack Donnelly, Brendan Mulry and Conor Mulry.

The team’s top scorers from last season, Paddy Fallon and Mickey Joe Egan, are included at corner-forward and midfield respectively.

“Like every team that will be playing in the National League, you have to target your home games. Everyone likes to win at home in front of their own people.

“We’re pretty much working away with what we have. They’d be one or two coming in. We won’t be closing the door on anyone. We want to try and give as many guys a chance to break into the squad.

“If we could hold our status, it would mean that we’d be in a higher division of hurling for another year, which would be a great achievement in itself. Obviously we want to go as far as we can in the competition. But if we could stay in Division 2B, the building blocks would be in place for this year and next year.

“London have been holding their own in Division 2B, so that’s the level we have to aim for. There are loads of good hurlers over there. We know that we’ll get nothing easy in this game,” manager Kevin Sammon told the Roscommon Herald ahead of Sunday’s game in Athleague, which throws in at 12.30 p.m..

ROSCOMMON v London

1 Brendan Quinn (Roscommon Gaels)

2 Mark Ward (Athleague)

3 James Dillon (Four Roads)

4 Jason Martin (St. Dominic’s)

5 Adam Donnelly (Four Roads, captain)

6 Conor Cosgrove (Ardrahan)

7 Darragh Finn (Pádraig Pearses)

8 Mickey Joe Egan (St. Dominic’s)

9 Jack Donnelly (Four Roads)

10 Robbie Fallon (Athleague)

11 Declan Leonard (Oran)

12 Brendan Mulry (Four Roads)

13 Conor Mulry (Four Roads)

14 Seán Canning (Pádraig Pearses)

15 Paddy Fallon (Oran)

Subs: Thomas Fleming (Meelick/Eyrecourt), Darragh Mullen (Athleague), Jimmy Hoey (Four Roads), Liam Óg Coyle (Four Roads), Michael Brennan (Tremane), Cian Murray (Athleague), Cathal Crehan (Athleague), Cormac Mulry (Four Roads), Chulainn Dowd (Southern Gaels), Micheál Hussey (Oran), Jack Dowling (Athenry).