Derry name team for clash with the All-Ireland champions

By Michael McMullan

PADDY Tally has named his Derry team for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC clash with reigning champions Armagh (BOX IT Athletic Grounds 5pm).

There are four changes from the defeat at the hands of Donegal seven weeks ago in Ballybofey.

Ben McKinless is named in goals, a first start since the Oakleafers’ exit at the hands of Kildare in 2018.

Lavey ‘keeper Louis Regan is named on the bench, having played between the sticks in Derry’s Ulster minor exit against Armagh in 2021.

Former minor skipper Patrick McGurk is set for a first championship start ahead of the injured Martin Bradley in defence.

U-20 captain Ruairí Forbes also makes a first championship with Conor Doherty now listed at midfield ahead of Dan Higgins who drops out of the starting 15.

In attack, Lachlan Murray misses out with injury and is replaced by Niall Loughlin who came into the Donegal game from the bench.

Danny McDermott and Tommy Rogers have been added to the panel after their season with the u-20s.

Derry are aiming for a first win since victory over Westmeath last summer.

Saturday’s clash with Armagh won’t be televised.

Derry: Ben McKinless; Patrick McGurk, Eoin McEvoy, Diarmuid Baker; Ruairí Forbes, Brendan Rogers, Paudi McGrogan; Conor Glass, Conor Doherty; Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Niall Toner

Subs: Louis Regan, Ryan Mulholland, Dan Higgins, Kevin Quinn, Anton Tohill, Tommy Rogers, Ben McCarron, Charlie Diamond, Cahir McMonagle, Caolan Devlin, Danny McDermott

Check out this week’s Gaelic Lives preview show with Paul Durcan and Kyle Coney looking ahead to this weekend’s All-Ireland SFC games