By Michael McMullan

JIM McGuinness has named the Donegal team for Saturday’s NFL opener against Dublin in Croke Park (5pm)

Nine of the team have been retained from the starting lineup from the quarter final.

Donegal still await the return of Shaun Patton, Michael Murphy and Oisín Gallen, while Ciarán Thompson is a long-term absentee with injury.

Newcomers Paul O’Hare, Shea Malone and Kieran Gallagher are in line for their league debuts.

It will be a busy week for Turlough Carr and Conor McCahill who are named on the bench but have a MacRory Cup semi-final coming down the tracks.

Others still awaiting a league debut are goalkeeper Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde, Eoin McGeehin and Ultan Doherty.

New Dublin manager Ger Brennan has named his first league from of his tenure.

The Dubs used their O’Byrne Cup campaign to finalise their extensive trial process.

Wing backs Eoin Kennedy and Robert Shaw are the only players from the O’Byrne Cup to made the starting 15 to face Donegal.

DONEGAL
Gavin Mulreany
Caolan McColgan
Brendan McCole
Paul O’Hare
Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde
Caolan McGonagle
Peadar Mogan
Hugh McFadden
Jason McGee
Dáire Ó Baoill
Shane O’Donnell
Ciarán Moore
Conor O’Donnell
Kieran Gallagher
Shea Malone
SUBS
Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde
Eoghan Bán Gallagher
Ultan Doherty
Finnbarr Roarty
Ryan McHugh
Mark Curran
Turlough Carr
Kevin Muldoon
Conor McCahill
Michael Langan
Eoin McGeehin

DUBLIN
Evan Comerford
Eoin Murchan
Sean MacMahon
David Byrne
Robert Shaw
Nathan Doran
Eoin Kennedy
Ethan Dunne
Tom Lahiff
Killian McGinnis
Niall Scully
Brian Howard
Paddy Small
Con O’Callaghan
Lorcan O’Dell
SUBS
Hugh O’Sullivan
Greg McEnaney
Eoghan O’Callaghan
Conor Tyrell
Páidí White
Cian O’Connor
Luke Breathnach
Seán Guiden
Sean Bugler
Jack Lundy