Derry name side for Antrim clash

EXPERIENCE… Derry’s Ruairi Convery will operate at full-forward on Sunday

Tom McLean has announced his Derry side that will play Antrim at Celtic Park on Sunday (2pm) in the opening round of the National Hurling League.

There are a number of significant changes to the team. The departure of Kevin and Liam Hinphey was big news earlier this year because the Kevin Lynch’s players were such stalwarts and key players to the team.

But McLean is also missing a number of key players such as Paddy Henry, Se McGuigan, Anton Rafferty and Michael Warnock.

To emphasise how much change has happened this year; seven of Sunday’s starting line up didn’t feature in last year’s final game of the season, Derry’s defeat to Down in the Ulster Championship.

Only Darrell McDermott, Eugene McGuckin, Conor McSorley, Sean McCullagh, Tiarnan McCloskey, Jonathan O’Dwyer, Ruairi Convery and Alan Grant played in that game last year.

Darrell McDermott,

Eugene McGuckin, Conor McSorley, Seán McCullagh (Capt)

Darragh McCloskey, Paddy Kelly, Dermot O’Neill,

Oisín McCloskey, Tiarnán McCloskey

Jonathan O’Dwyer, Mark McGuigan, Gareth O’Kane

Shane Farren, Ruairi Convery, Alan Grant