All-Ireland SFC final countdown: Kerry manager Jack O'Connor and his selectors have created something of a stir by dropping Eoin Brosnan for Sunday's All-Ireland final against Mayo at Croke Park.
The Dr Crokes player makes way for team captain Declan O'Sullivan who returns to the side at centre forward. The move comes as a surprise because, although O'Sullivan's recall was on the cards, it had been believed Tommy Griffin would be the player to lose his place with Brosnan moving to centrefield where he played well in the 2004 All-Ireland when the same counties were involved.
O'Sullivan, who also captained the team last year, had been dropped after some poor displays in Munster. His contributions when introduced as a replacement, however, showed improvement.
Whereas Brosnan was favoured to make the move to centrefield there were equally strong feelings in some quarters that Griffin hadn't done much wrong and that Darragh Ó Sé - having an excellent season - was comfortable with his partner's unfussy support play.
Brosnan hasn't been having the best of years in attack although there has also been speculation that he has been carrying a groin and lower back strain.
Nonetheless this didn't stop the Killarney solicitor putting in some impressive displays at training, including at a specially arranged practice match played last weekend in Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Brosnan had featured on the senior side at a number of sessions.
Overall the side shows four changes from the one that lost to Tyrone in last year's All-Ireland final. Including Brosnan, half of the attack has changed with the retirements of both Liam Hassett and Dara Ó Cinnéide as well as centrefielder William Kirby.
Making their first starts in an All-Ireland are Griffin and current full forward sensation Kieran Donaghy.
Griffin did appear in the replayed final of 2000 against Galway as a replacement whereas the fourth change, Seán O'Sullivan, started the 2002 final against Armagh.
Séamus Moynihan will, if he lines out as selected, be starting an All-Ireland final in a fourth different position having played at right wing back, full back, left wing back and now centre back in the finals of 1997, 2000, '02, '05 and now this year.
KERRY SUBSTITUTES: 16. Kieran Cremin (Dr Crokes), 17. Eoin Brosnan (Dr Crokes), 18. Darren O'Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), 19. Eamonn Fitzmaurice (Finuge), 20. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary's), 21. Mossie Lyons (Castleisland Desmonds), 22. Brendan Guiney (Listowel Emmets), 23. Ronan O'Connor (St Michael's/Foilmore), 24. Pádraig Reidy (Scartaglin), 25. Paul O'Connor (Kenmare), 26. Killian Young (Renard), 27. Ronan Hussey (Sneem), 28. Kieran O'Leary (Dr Crokes), 29. Aodán Mac Gearailt (An Gaeltacht), 30. Adrian O'Connell (St Michael's/Foilmore).
