Football

Enda Lynn a doubt for Derry's trip to Waterford

Derry captain Enda Lynn is a doubt for their opening qualifier with Waterford. Picture by Philip Walsh
Derry captain Enda Lynn is a doubt for their opening qualifier with Waterford. Picture by Philip Walsh Derry captain Enda Lynn is a doubt for their opening qualifier with Waterford. Picture by Philip Walsh

DERRY captain Enda Lynn is a doubt for their first round Qualifier away to Waterford after he suffered a hamstring injury during a club game.

The Greenlough man, whose performance against Tyrone was one of very few positives from an 11-point defeat for the Oak Leafers, lasted just a matter of minutes in the St Oliver Plunkett’s defeat by Claudy on Friday night.

He hobbled off the field after less than five minutes with an apparent hamstring strain and it’s understood that he had carried the injury into the game with Mickey Harte’s side.

However, Derry are hopeful that it is just a minor tweak and have not yet discounted him from their plans for the trip to Waterford.

Emmett McGuckin also sat out Magherafelt’s clash with Slaughtneil as a precaution after he took a knock against Tyrone.

There was good news for Mark Lynch as he impressed for Banagher in their win over Glenullin, while Neil Forester also made a return, playing the full game for Steelstown in their intermediate meeting with Desertmartin.

Lynn is the one significant doubt and his absence would be a major blow ahead of a potential banana skin in Walsh Park. The Déise came agonisingly close to causing a seismic shock in their Munster quarter-final with Cork.

They headed into stoppage time level but late scores from Colm O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan saved the blushes of Peadar Healy’s side and sent Waterford into the Qualifiers.

Derry – who did at least avoid their bogey side Longford – will be heartened by the fact that their hosts have won just one Qualifier since its inception 16 years ago, a 1-17 to 0-13 win over London back in 2013.

Damian Barton will also have to wait and see how dual players Chrissy McKaigue and Brendan Rogers come through the Derry hurlers’ Nicky Rackard Cup final with Armagh on Saturday.

They are one of two Ulster counties on the 1A side of the Qualifier draw along with Antrim, who have been paired away to Sligo.

Niall Carew’s side looked in danger of becoming the first team ever to lose a Championship game to New York last month, but rallied in the closing minutes to pull clear.

They were never at the pitch of Mayo, though, in their Connacht quarter-final and suffered a 2-14 to 0-11 defeat. The Saffrons claimed a 0-11 to 1-7 win when the sides met in the National League back in February.

On the other side of the draw, Armagh and Fermanagh will meet in Championship football for the first time since their 2010 qualifier meeting.

Following their disappointing loss to Monaghan in the preliminary round this year, Pete McGrath’s side will meet an Armagh team deflated as much by the manner of the defeat to rivals Down on Sunday as the actual loss itself.

They are on the tougher side of the first round draw, with the losers of Cavan and Monaghan set to face Westmeath or Offaly.

Seamus McEnaney’s Wexford, who were surprisingly beaten by Carlow in Leinster, will travel to Limerick, while London will host Carlow in the final game on the 1B side.

While the ‘A’ side appears the easier half of the draw in round one, it will become the tougher side from the next round onwards.

The four first round winners will be pitted against the losers of the provincial semi-finals involving Donegal and Tyrone, Meath and Kildare, Mayo and Galway, and Kerry and Clare.

Meanwhile, the winners of Saturday’s Christy Ring Cup final between Antrim and Carlow will meet Laois for a place in the All-Ireland series on the weekend of June 24/25.

All-Ireland SFC Qualifying Round 1A

Saturday, June 17

Waterford v Derry (Dungarvan, 3pm)

Louth v Longford (Drogheda, 5pm)

Wicklow v Laois (Aughrim, 5pm)

Sligo v Antrim (Markiewicz Park, 5pm)

Round 1B

Saturday, June 24

Limerick v Wexford (Limerick, 3pm)

Sunday, June 25

London v Carlow (Ruislip, 1pm)

Armagh v Fermanagh (the Athletic Grounds, 6.30pm)

Date, venue and time TBC

Westmeath/Offaly v Cavan/Monaghan