Team News: Tyrone name starting XV to face Donegal in MacCumhaill Park

Tyrone has named their panel to face Donegal tomorrow evening in Ballybofey for their opening round-robin fixture with a number of their U-20 players who recently won the All-Ireland last weekend called up to the training panel.

Five players from Tyrone's All-Ireland U-20 championship-winning team have been invited to join the Red Hand senior squad with goalkeeper Conor McAneney, defenders Michael Rafferty and Shea O’Hare, as well as forwards Eoin McElholm and Ronan Cassidy, all poised to immediately advance to the senior team. 

It is reported that McElholm, who scored seven points from play in the victory over Kerry in Portlaoise, and U-20 team captain Rafferty have accepted the invitation, while the others are currently considering the offer. 

The Red Hand U-20s secured their second U-20 All-Ireland title in three seasons with an impressive attacking display last weekend, defeating Kerry by 1-20 to 1-14 at O’Moore Park. 

For O'Hare, the opportunity to join the senior squad follows his recognition as the Eirgrid U-20 GAA Football Player of the Year by the Gaelic Writers Association for his outstanding performances throughout Tyrone's successful campaign. 

None of the U-20 players have made the matchday 26 for tomorrow’s clash with Donegal, but Brian Dooher believes that the arrival of some new faces in the squad could reinvigorate the team as they begin the All-Ireland series. 

“They definitely were impressive on the weekend past, and they’ll definitely add a bit of energy and value to the whole set-up,” said Dooher. 

“We’ll look at that, but we’ll give them a wee bit of breathing space, a bit of time, and get them in. A lot of them acquitted themselves very well during the U20 Championship, and they’re ready for the next step up.” 

Niall Devlin and Ruairí Canavan are the only two changes on the Tyrone starting XV from the last time these two sides met in the Ulster semi-final last month with Cathal McShane and Colin Devlin dropping out of the starting team. 

The winner of the Ballybofey derby will be in pole position to claim a quarter-final spot and avoid the fixture congestion facing preliminary quarter-finalists. 

Last year all but one of the counties that went straight to the last eight as table-toppers succeeded in progressing to the All-Ireland semi-finals. 

Tyrone team: Niall Morgan; Niall Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Ben Cullen, Matthew Donnelly, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Ciaran Daly, Michael O’Neill, Sean O’Donnell; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Ruairí Canavan.