RIAN O’Neill doesn’t feature in the Armagh panel for Saturday’s trip to Salthill where the Orchardmen face Galway in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final in their opening Division One match in this year’s Allianz Football League.
Both O’Neill brothers are absent from Kieran McGeeney’s squad as are Jarly Óg Burns and Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay and Joe McElroy from last year’s Sam Maguire decider. Conor Turbitt is named on the bench for the Pearse Stadium clash.
The team does feature 10 starters from the Orchard county’s All-Ireland final over the Tribesmen last July, including Young Footballer of the Year Oisin Conaty and Irish News Men’s Football Player of the Year Barry McCambridge. Clan na Gael forward Stefan Campbell returns for another year in orange and white and Aidan Forker once again captains the team.
Armagh: B Hughes; T McCormack, B McCambridge, A Forker; Connaire Mackin, T Kelly, G McCabe; B Crealey, N Grimley; O Conaty, R Grugan, D McMullen; C McConville, A Murnin, S Campbell
Subs: E Rafferty, G Murphy, C O’Neill, F O’Brien, D Magee, C Turbitt, R McQuillan, J Duffy, C O’Hanlon, J Hall, S McPartlan