Dermot Earley will continue his comeback from injury when he lines out for the Kildare juniors in tonight's Leinster championship opener against Louth at Newbridge.

The two-time All Star played the full 60 minutes of a challenge match against the Tipperary juniors last week, and has been named at midfield for tonight's game, which will see last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists put their provincial title on the line.

Earley hasn't started a game for the Kildare seniors since suffering a cruciate knee injury in 2010, which required a further operation last year. He has been gradually working his way back to full fitness this year, however, and made a brief substitute appearance against Derry in the Allianz League on March 11, marking his comeback with a late point.

Kildare (JF v Louth): W Clinch; J Lambe, W Burke, C Fagan; E Fitzpatrick (captain), C Feeney, C O'Shea; B Lawlor, D Earley; T McCann, S Hanafin, D Flynn; G Duffy, C Bolton, C McNally. Tweet

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