By Michael McMullan

DERRY forward Eamon Young sat out Wednesday’s Ulster U-20 defeat to Donegal as a precaution.

The Newbridge man was part of the county’s recent All-Ireland minor winning teams.

With James Sargent still on the way back from his ACL injury, Young was a miss in their narrow defeat to Donegal.

Derry manager Damian McErlain admitted Young could’ve featured but the cautious approach was more important.

“He could have played tonight (Wednesday) and come through but the danger was he may not then have been fit to train for couple of weeks,” McErlain said.

“We couldn’t have that; we wanted him training and coming into the knockout games having been training.

“It’s just a short-term piece on his knee but we didn’t want to risk him and it was the right decision from a medical point of view.”

Derry won their first two games but defeat to Donegal on Wednesday night means their pathway takes them into a quarter-final with the third placed team in the other group.

The final round of games take place on Wednesday night with Derry facing Antrim in Dunsilly knowing they are already guaranteed second spot.

Derry have not won the title since Mickey Donnelly steered them to glory in 2018, the first year of the competition after the move from u-21.

The Oakleafers lost on penalties to Tyrone two years ago and again last year in the semi-finals.