Ryan dismisses favourites' tag

April 24, 2008
Kildare under 21 football boss Glenn Ryan has laughed off claims by All-Ireland final opponents Kerry that the Lilywhites are favourites to lift the title. Ryan's Kingdom counterpart Sean Geaney suggested after his side's narrow semi-final win over Mayo that Kildare - winners over a much-fancied Down in the other semi-final - were favourites to win Saturday week's final in Thurles, but the former Lilywhite centre back was having none of it. "I don't know what Sean was basing his claim on," Ryan said. "But from my experience with Mick O'Dwyer, I'm well aware of the kind of tricks that Kerry boys get up to." Meanwhile, Kildare senior manager Kieran McGeeney has finalised his championship squad ahead of the first round against Wicklow on May 18. And there are no places for John O'Donoghue, Mick Wright, Niall Browne, Terry Rossiter, Adrian Kelly and Paul Cornish in the 32-man panel. The panel in full is: T Corley, E Murphy, E Callaghan, E Bolton, M O'Flaherty, K O'Neill, D Hendy, A McLoughlin, D Lyons, M Scanlon, G Whyte, M Foley, A Rainbow, K O'Neill, D Flynn, K Brennan, D Earley, W Heffernan, P O'Neill, J Doyle, M Conway, M Harnett, K Ennis, K Donnelly, T Fennin, J Kavanagh, A Smith, P Mullarkey, R Sweeney, E Naughton, K Cribben and B Flanagan.

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