O’Neill to lead Ulster

All Star Stephen O’Neill leads the way after six Tyrone men were named in Joe Kernan’s Ulster fifteen to face Leinster in Saturday’s M Donnelly Inter-provincial football semi-final against Leinster at Crossmaglen.

O’Neill, the only man from the dethroned 2008 Sam Maguire winners to receive an All Star last week has been name at full forward and will captain the province for the first time.

He is joined in the team by O’Neill county goalkeeper John Devine, full back Justin McMahon, left wing back Davy Harte, veteran midfielder Kevin Hughes and fellow forward Joe McMahon.

Donegal sharpshooter Michael Murphy, fresh from being named as Young Footballer of the Year, will start alongside O’Neill at top of the left. He is the only Tír Chonnaill star named by Kernan, with Monaghan and Fermanagh also having to settle for one player each. Ace free-taker Paul Finlay represents the Farney men at right half forward with Erne county star Ryan McCluskey at right corner back.

Derry, Armagh and Down all have two players though. Gerard O’Kane at number four and lethal finisher Paddy Bradley in the full forward line are the Oak Leaf men in the team, with the manager’s son Aaron Kernan and Ciarán McKeever in for the Orchard County and Down midfielder Dan Gordon and centre forward Benny Coulter completing the team.

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As part of a promotional campaign in association with the Irish News, Ulster Gaels can get free admission vouchers for Under 16’s to the Ulster v Leinster game in Saturday’s Irish News.
There will also be a number of editorial pieces in the Irish News ahead of the big game, including interview’s with Ulster manager Joe Kernan.

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Ulster:
1)  John Devine  (Tír Eoghain)
2)  Ryan McCloskey  (Fear Manach)
3)  Justin McMahon   (Tír Eoghain)
4)  Gerard O’Kane   (Doire)
5)  Aaron Kernan   (Ard Mhacha)
6)  Ciaran McKeever  (Ard Mhacha)
7)  Davy Harte  (Tír Eoghain)
8)  Dan Gordan   (An Dún)
9)   Kevin Hughes  (Tír Eoghain)
10)  Paul Finlay  (Muineachán)
11)  Benny Coulter  (An Dún)
12)  Joe McMahon  (Tír Eoghain)
13)  Paddy Bradley  (Doire)
14)  Stephen O’Neill  (Tir Eoghain)
15)  Michael Murphy  (Dún na nGall)

16)  Pascal McConnell  (Tír Eoghain)
17)  Brendan Donaghy   (Ard Mhacha)
18)  Danny Hughes  (An Dún)
19)  Ronan Flanagan  (An Cabhán)
20)  Enda McGinley  (Tír Eoghain)
21)  Michael McCann  (Aontroim)
22)  Conor Gormley  (Tír Eoghain)
23)  Tommy Freeman (Muineachán)
24)  Karl Lacey  (Dún na nGall)