Minor teams: Dublin v Tyrone

Dublin will start Sunday's All-Ireland minor football final against Tyrone with the same team that defeated Kerry in the semi…

Dublin will start Sunday's All-Ireland minor football final against Tyrone with the same team that defeated Kerry in the semi-final. It is their first final appearance since 1988, and the last time they won was four years previously in 1984.

Manager Paddy Canning's decision to leave the side unchanged was expected, although there may have been a temptation to alter the defence. Danny McCann played a key role at corner back against Kerry as an early substitute but Graham Dent, who had been ultra-consistent throughout the summer, holds on to his place.

Martin Whelan also made a useful impact in the attack when appearing as a substitute but he also stays on the bench. The team is captained by wing back Barry Lyons, a nephew of former Dublin senior Keith Barr.

Tyrone have made one change in personnel compared to the team that defeated Mayo in their semi-final. Colm Donnelly gets his big break by making his first start of the season, coming in at right half forward.

READ MORE

Donnelly made a useful impression as a second-half substitute in the win over Mayo, thus convincing manager Martin Coyle to give him his place in the first 15. Paul Rafferty, who was replaced by Donnelly the last day, is the player to lose out.

That switch has brought about a reshuffle in the attack. Leo Meenan moves from right half to right full forward, from where Gerard Toner switches to the other corner. Seβn Cavanagh has been named at centre forward, although he is likely to partner team captain Peter Donnelly at midfield, with Barry Mulligan pushing forward.

DUBLIN (MF v Tyrone): P Copeland; D Galvin, M Fitzpatrick, G Dent; P Griffin, B Cullen, B Lyons; D O'Mahoney, P Brennan; N McAuliffe, M Taylor, G Brennan; D O'Callaghan, G Cullen, J Noonan. Subs: M Gillett, M Whelan, D McCann, N Cooper, N Clarke, C Corrigan, D Farrell, A Cromwell, F Walsh.

TYRONE (MF v Dublin): J Devine; R O'Neill, D Carlin, M McStravock; J McMahon, K McCrory, P Quinn; P Donnelly, B Mulligan; C Donnelly, S Cavanagh, T McGuigan; L Meenan M Penrose, G Toner.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics