Teams named for McKenna Cup semi-finals

By Michael McMullan

CAVAN and Derry name named their teams for this weekend’s Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals.

Mickey Graham has made four changes for Saturday’s (5pm) visit of Tyrone to Kingspan Breffni Park.

There is a first start of the season for Niall Carolan, with Padraig Faulkner, Conor Brady and Brandon Boylan returning.

Tyrone have named an unchanged team after theirt midweek draw with Derry

Captain Padraig Hamsey had his red card rescinded and there is a place on the bench for Darren McCurry who has yet to play this season.

Derry manager Rory Gallagher has made one change with a return for All-Star Chrissy McKaigue who missed the midweek draw with a knock.

The Oakleafers take on Down on Sunday (1.30pm) in Páirc Esler with Conor Laverty winning both games to date in his first season as senior boss.

Dropping out of the Oakleafers’ lineup is Niall Loughlin who pulled up injured on Wednesday night and had a late cameo appearance for UU in the Sigerson Cup 24 hours earlier.

COUNTY CALL…Diarmuid Baker (left) has been named on the bench for Derry. Picture: Cathal McOscar

Steelstown defender Diarmuid Baker, who scored 0-2 as Queen’s beat UU in the same game, has been added to the panel having yet to represent Derry at any level.

He had an excellent season in the club’s run to the All-Ireland intermediate title in 2022 and was named on the Gaelic Life All-Star team of the season.

Cavan: Raymond Galligan, Evan Finnegan, Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Ciaran Brady, Dara McVeety, Tiarnan Madden, Conor Brady, Killian Clarke, Cian Madden, Gerard Smith, Oisin Kiernan, Brandon Boylan, Ryan O’Neill, Oisin Brady

Derry: Odhran Lynch, Chrissy McKaigue, Eoin McEvoy, Conor McCluskey, Conor Doherty, Paudi McGrogan, Padraig Cassidy, Gareth McKinless, Brendan Rogers, Mark Doherty, Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy, Ben McCarron, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray

Down: TBC

Tyrone: Benny Gallen, Nathan McCarron, Cormac Munroe, Paudie Hampsey, Cormac Quinn, Peter Harte, Niall Devlin, Brian Kennedy, Richie Donnelly, Conor Meyler, Conn Kilpatrick, Niall Sludden, Cathal McShane, Mattie Donnelly, David Mulgrew