The man who lifted Sam Maguire last July and collected his ninth Celtic Cross started the Leinster final but doesn’t make either the team or listed subs this time around.
McCarthy, 34, was lightly raced during the spring but the presumption must be that he is carrying a knock, even though he played the full 70 minutes against Louth.
His place goes to Seán MacMahon, who is restored to defence with Tom Lahiff now listed at midfield. As ever, though, further Dublin alterations before throw-in cannot be discounted.
Meanwhile, Colm O’Rourke has called up Ronan Ryan, Cian McBride and Cillian O’Sullivan as Meath travel to Inniskeen in Monaghan for their crucial SFC derby clash with Louth. Ross Ryan, Daithí McGowan and Jordan Morris all revert to the bench.
O’Sullivan will lead the attack from the ‘40’, marking his first appearance of the season – and 106th in a senior jersey. Ryan will be making his first start of 2024, having missed the league through injury, while McBride is poised for his first SFC start alongside captain Ronan Jones.
Among the subs, Brian O’Halloran returns to the senior panel after the U-20 championship while Conor Gray makes his first appearance in a match-day panel since coming on as a sub against Louth in the O’Byrne Cup back in January.
DUBLIN (SFC v Roscommon) – S Cluxton; E Murchan, M Fitzsimons, C Murphy; S MacMahon, J Small, S Bugler; B Fenton, T Lahiff; N Scully, C Costello, C Kilkenny; P Mannion, C O’Callaghan, C Basquel.
Subs: D O’Hanlon, T Clancy, B Howard, J McCaffrey, R McGarry, K McGinnis, D Newcombe, P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, L O’Dell, K O’Gara, P Small.
MEATH (SFC v Louth) – B Hogan; D Keogan, A O’Neill, R Ryan; H O’Higgins, D Campion, S Coffey; R Jones, C McBride; C Caulfield, C O’Sullivan, C Hickey; J Conlon, M Costello, E Frayne.
Subs: S Brennan, M Murphy, S Ryan, B O’Halloran, R Ryan, C Gray, D McGowan, R Kinsella, J O’Connor, J Morris, A Lynch.
