Three changes for Derry ahead of Kerry visit

By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Paddy Tally will hand a senior debut to Neil McNicholl in Sunday’s NFL visit of Kerry (Celtic Park 12.30pm).

McNicholl, a converted outfield player, has been selected ahead of Odhrán Lynch between the posts.

Having played at underage level for Derry and a Hogan Cup winner with St Patrick’s Maghera, he as called into the senior setup in 2013 by Brian McIver who was a selector under his son Paul with the minors the previous season.

McNicholl was midfield on Glenullin’s back-to-back intermediate winning teams. Ironically, his older brother Eoin has played at all levels in goals for Derry.

Cormac Murphy comes in ahead of the injured Ciaran McFaul. The other is Mark Doherty coming in for a first league start ahead of Declan Cassidy.

Younger brother of vice-captain Conor, Doherty, Anton Tohill and Callum McGrogan all made their league debuts in the defeat to Tyrone.

Tally had called Ballinderry duo Gareth McKinless and Niall O’Donnelly into the panel but both are on the injured list.

O’Donnell had surgery on a hamstring injury in London and missed Ballinderry’s defeat at the hands of Crossmolina.

McKinless played the final with a heavily strapped knee and is expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

It will be a different afternoon for Tally who was part of Jack O’Connor’s backroom team in Kerry who knocked Derry out of the All-Ireland series in last two seasons.

Kerry didn’t have a game last weekend after their Donegal game was postponed. David Clifford – not listed last week – is expected to sit this one out too.

Micheál Burns is back training with the squad after being dropped last season but he won’t be in line for action in Celtic Park.

Derry: Neil McNicholl; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Mark Doherty; Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Donncha Gilmore; Conor Glass, Anton Tohill; Cormac Murphy, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Lachlann Murray
Subs: Odhrán Lynch, Ryan Mulholland, Declan Cassidy, Shea Downey, Jody McDermott, Patrick McGurk, Dan Higgins, Ben McCarron, Caolan Devlin, Charlie Diamond, Callum McGrogan