By Michael McMullan

BELLAGHY manager Damian Cassidy is “optimistic” Paul Cassidy will be available for selection ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final showdown with Magherafelt.

The Derry star limped out of their defeat to Sleacht Néill midway through the second half when the Tones were still well placed.

A combination of Cassidy’s injury, Cahal McKaigue’s goal for the Emmet’s and being caught for a breach having not had three men was the cocktail that hurt Bellaghy.

Cassidy, who captained Bellaghy to their fourth Ulster minor title in 2018, sat out their Qualifier win over Faughanvale but could be available as Bellaghy chase a first semi-final spot since 2015.

“We’re optimistic that he’ll be fit for the game,” the Bellaghy boss told Gaelic Life.

“I would probably describe it as 50-50 at the minute,” he said last week. “I’ll take that compared to where he was a few weeks ago.”

Veteran forward Eoghan Brown, in his mid-30s is having an excellent season. Below that Peter Cassidy, Damian’s 29-year-old son, is injury free for the first time in recent seasons. Two years below that is goalkeeper Peter Stuart and defender Karl McCallion.

You have to go all the way to their 2018 Ulster minor winning crop for the next batch.

“You’re down to the Paul Cassidys,” Cassidy pointed out. “Everything’s below all of that again. You have Luke Diamond, Ciarán Chambers, James Donnelly and Charlie Diamond, all sitting 20, 21, 22 at best, a chunk of players who are 24-ish and under.

“We’ve been hammered with injuries,” Cassidy added. “It’s a serious level of hammering.”

Keelan Friel, Conleth McShane, Ruairi McElwee, Declan Brown, Ryan and Odhran Lee are out for the season.

Ruairi McErlean, a regular all season, has since picked up an injury that has ended his year.

“There’s no correlation between any injuries at all, they are different types of injuries, but they’re out for the season,” Cassidy added,

“We’ve been fortunate that we’ve a pretty good strength and depth with the younger players, so that’s where we’re at.”