Derry name squad for Croke Park clash with Meath

By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Ciarán Meenagh has named his first squad of the league ahead of Saturday’s clash with Meath at Croke Park (3pm).

There are three changes in the listed first 15 from the team that started their McKenna Cup defeat to Donegal.

Sleacht Néill duo Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan are set for their first games of the season with Ryan Scullion returning between the posts.

Mark Doherty, Conor McAteer and Shea McGuckin are the players who drop out.

Conall Higgins scored two points on Wednesday night in the Sigerson Cup for Queen’s in their win over Ulster University.

He takes his place in the squad with Patrick McGurk who game on for Queen’s to set up the clinching injury time insurance goal.

Ruairi Forbes was initially listed to start for Queen’s in midweek but failed a late fitness test. He is listed for Saturday in Croke Park.

Ciarán Meenagh won’t be able to call on Queen’s captain Dan Higgins with a knee injury sustained in their recent defeat against UCC.

Higgins – older brother of Conall – missed the midweek game in Jordanstown and is in a knee cage as he begins his recovery.

Niall Toner is set for a milestone in Croke Park. Saturday will be his 100th senior game for Derry and his 50th in league appearance.

Meath manager Robbie Brennan has also named his squad with only goalkeeper Harry Hogan and midfielder Bryan Menton listed to start who played in the O’Byrne Cup.

The rest of their squad played on the challenge game circuit.

Brennan was in Celtic Park to watch Derry against Donegal. From that McKenna Cup game, 12 of the Derry players are listed to start on Saturday in Croke Park.

SQUAD
1 Ryan Scullion
2 Conor McCluskey
3 Paudi McGrogan
4 Diarmuid Baker
5 Conor Doherty
6 Gareth McKinless
7 Shea Downey
8 Conor Glass
9 Brendan Rogers
10 Ethan Doherty
11 Niall Toner
12Paul Cassidy
13 Lachlan Murray
14 Shane McGuigan
15 Niall Loughlin

Shea McGuckin
Ruairí Forbes
Patrick McGurk
Mark Doherty
Conor McAteer
Matthew Downey
Jack Doherty
Ruairí Ó Mianáin
Conall Higgins
Sean Kearney
Sean Young

MEATH
Billy Hogan
Seamus Lavin
Seán Rafferty
Brian O’Halloran
Donal Keoghan
Seán Coffey
Ciaran Caulfield
Bryan Menton
Jack Flynn
Conor Duke
Matthew Costello
Cathal Hickey
Jordan Morris
Keith Curtis
Eoghan Frayne
SUB
Seán Brennan
Ronan Ryan
Killian Smyth
Cian McBride
Oisin Martin
Adam O’Neill
Jason Scully
Aaron Lynch
Jack O’Connor
Jordan Muldoon
Charlie O’Connor