Peter Fitzpatrick replaces the injured Ambrose Rogers in the Down team for tomorrow's All-Ireland football semi-final against Kildare.

As expected, team captain Rogers has failed to recover from the knee injury he suffered in a recent match for his club Longstone and is replaced by last year's under 21 star Fitzpatrick in the middle of the field. Rogers has, however, been named among the substitutes and is expected to enter the fray at some stage.

The switch is the only change from the side that shocked Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final. This will be the second time that 6'3" Fitzpatrick has deputised for Rogers in a big game at Croke Park this year, having filled in for him during the NFL Division 2 final against Armagh when the unlucky Down captain was ruled out with a foot injury.

Fitzpatrick's inclusion means manager James McCartan has resisted the temptation to shift Dan Gordon from full back to the middle of the pitch. Attackers Conor Maginn and Ronan Murtagh have to be satisfied with places on the bench once more.

Down (SF v Kildare): B McVeigh; D McCartan, D Gordon, D Rafferty; D Rooney, K McKernan, C Garvey; P Fitzpatrick, K King; D Hughes, M Poland, P McComiskey; B Coulter, J Clarke, M Clarke. Tweet

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