PREVIEW BY CHRIS MCNULTY
DONEGAL manager Brian McIver is, early this afternoon, expected to announce his team for the Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter final against Derry at Sean MacCumhaill Park on Sunday (throw-in 4.00pm).
The squad trained for the final time ahead of the big showdown in Ballybofey last night, when McIver will have announced the starting line-up to the players. Michael Murphy was this week the manager's only injury concern with the Glenswilly attacker picking up an ankle injury after going over at a school presentation.
While Brian McIver was keeping his cards close to his chest at the team's press evening on Tuesday, it is strongly believed that Murphy will start at full forward on Sunday.
McIver has his options boosted by the return of Rory Kavanagh, who looked set to miss the game, while Barry Dunnion has also declared himself fit and in the reckoning for a starting spot.
Leon Thompson is ruled out with a broken jaw while Niall McCready pulled a calf muscle some weeks back and is not in contention.
In terms of the team selection, much will depend on where Rory Kavanagh and Kevin Cassidy are chosen. If Cassidy is chose in his favoured wing-back spot the Kavanagh will partner Neil Gallagher at centrefield, although Cassidy could start in the middle if Kavanagh is preferred in an attacking position. That would open the door for Barry Dunnion to come in at wing-back.
The Donegal boss also spoke for the first time this week on Brendan Devenney's omission, pointing out that the St Eunan's man could return for the next game. He said: "He had returned for the club, but he pulled out of a couple of games. But, he was back again and played for the club at the weekend.
"I was speaking to him during the week and he reckons it's clearing up well, but he isn't in contention for this weekend. He was never out of contention."
National League Champions Derry come to Ballybofey with injury concerns of their own to contend with. Liam Hinphey and Joe Keenan are definitely out of the reckoning while Gerard O'Kane is in a race against the clock with Barry McGoldrick also struggling for fitness.
Yet, with Paul Murphy and James Conway pushing hard for starting berths, Brian McIver knows Sunday's opposition will provide a stern test.
"I know Paddy Crozier and the Derry squad are very confident," he said. "They have possibly been the most consistent side from near enough the game they played against Dublin in Croke Park last year - a game they should have won. Since then, they have improved and they're going to be coming here with great confidence."
Six weeks ago, these sides met in the National League at O'Donnell Park, where the Oak Leaf men ran out five-point winners. Yet, this Sunday will see a different outlook - this is where it matters and this is where seasons are gauged to be successes of failures.
"We would have been disappointed that day in terms of our own performance," said McIver.
"Derry won by five points and we knew that we had a massive amount of work to do. Now, irrespective of what happened that day in Letterkenny it was going to be the same. The difference between League and Championship is night and day. Had we won that match there would still have been serious work to do, but it helped focus our minds.
"This has all the hallmarks of being the biggest game in the first round of this year's championship. Given a good day here and a massive crowd we've all the settings for a cracking game.
"We have prepared well and as always in the championship you hope to give it your best shot."
Sunday's game is preceded by the Ulster Minor Football Championship quarter final meeting of the counties at 2.15pm.
See pages 11-14 for a special preview on Sunday's big game.
Donegal (Predicted): Paul Durcan; Paddy McDaid, Neil McGee, Karl Lacey; Frank McGlynn, Eamon McGee, Kevin Cassidy; Neil Gallagher, Rory Kavanagh; Christy Toye, Michael Hegarty, Brian Roper; Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy, David Walsh.
Donegal v Derry
Date: Sunday 1st June
Venue: Sean MacCumhaill Park
Throw-in: 4.00pm
On TV: Live on RTE 2 and BBC.
Betting: Donegal - 5-4; Derry - 10-11; Draw - 6-1.
Verdict: Although the underdogs, Donegal are well capable of turning out a big display on Sunday and Derry being favourites could be a blessing for them. If McFadden and Murphy are on song Derry could be in trouble. Donegal by two.
