DERRY will be without the injured Jonathan O’Dwyer for Saturday’s Christy Ring Cup clash with London, though Liam Hinphey has recovered sufficiently to be named on the bench.
The Oak Leafers, who had a narrow 0-13 to 0-11 win over Mayo in their opening round game, will be without Banagher man O’Dwyer, who hit 0-3 from play in a fine display against the westerners.
He picked up a knock late on which has ruled him out for this weekend, while Eugene McGuckin suffered a shoulder injury last week which is likely to end his involvement in the campaign.
Former Christy Ring Allstar Aaron Kelly takes O’Dwyer’s place in the side at corner-forward in the only change from the team which began the win over JP Coen’s men two weeks ago.
Liam Hinphey, who suffered a shoulder injury on club duty ahead of the competition’s start, is named at number 21, with his Kevin Lynch’s clubmate Niall Ferris (groin) also fit for a place among the subs.
Otherwise Tom McLean has kept faith with the side that edged through the opener.
London, who have yet to name their side, will be without Henry Vaughan and are sweating on the fitness of Bernard Gaffney and Stephen Lambert.
They made their way through the front door after an impressive replay win over holders Kildare last weekend, in which Clare-born veteran Martin Duggan netted a hat-trick.
The Exiles won the competition in 2012, when they beat Derry in an infamous quarter-final at Celtic Park, in which the hosts clawed back from 12 down at half-time but couldn’t fully close the gap and lost by two.
Meanwhile, Galway have made two changes from the team which eased past New York as they prepare to travel to Leitrim this weekend.
Forward Michéal Lundy and goalkeeper Brian Donoghue, both victims of the stomach bug which hit the squad while in New York, return in place of Eddie Hoare and Thomas Healy respectively.
Gareth Bradshaw again misses out through injury and leaves Paul Conroy, Gary Sice and Finian Hanley as the only Galway survivors from the sides’ last Championship meeting in 2008.
There are two changes for Leitrim from the side that claimed victory over Waterford in their final League outing. Daniel Sweeney replaces Paddy McGowan at midfield, while Donal Wrynn comes into a reshaped forward-line from which Alan McLoughlin drops out of a side that includes five debutants.
Offaly, unsurprisingly, have kept faith with the XV that so comfortably brushed Longford aside in last month’s Division Four League final as the sides prepare to lock horns again.
Pat Flanagan’s team claimed a 4-16 to 1-12 win over Jack Sheedy’s side in Croke Park back in April to annex the bottom tier’s silverware.
Louth will bid to repeat last summer’s five-point victory over Westmeath in their Leinster opener with just five of the team that started that afternoon.
Colin Kelly’s first Championship team also shows four changes from their final League outing against Limerick, with full-forward Derek Crilly among the notable absentees.
Westmeath named their side on Wednesday and show four debutants, while also lacking the presence of Denis Glennon, who has failed to recover from a hand injury in time.
Derry (Christy Ring Cup v London):D McDermott; M Warnock, C Quinn, S McCullagh; A Rafferty, C McSorley, K Hinphey; S McGuigan, B Quigley; P McCloskey, P Cleary, P Henry; A Kelly, R Convery, A Grant
Leitrim (Connacht SFC v Galway): C McCrann; M Murphy, R Gallagher, N Woods; S McWeeney, G Reynolds, T Mulvey; D Sweeney, S Moran; D Beck, D Wrynn, K Conlan; R Kennedy, J McGrail, F Clancy
Galway (Connacht SFC v Leitrim):B Donoghue; J Duane, F Hanley, C Sweeney; L Silke, G O’Donnell, S Denvir; F Ó Curraoin, P Conroy; G Side, S Walsh, M Lundy; P Ó Gríofa, D Comer, D Cummins
Offaly (Leinster SFC v Longford): A Mulhall; B Darby, P McConway, D Brady; N Darby, J Moloney, J O’Connor; G Guilfoyle, N Smith; E Carroll, N McNamee, A Sullivan; B Allen, N Dunne, W Mulhall
Louth (Leinster SFC v Westmeath): N Gallagher; A Williams, P Reilly, P Rath; D Byrne, D O’Hanlon, A Reid; B Duffy, T Durnin; D Maguire, C Judge, J Stewart; R Burns, C Grimes, P Smith
Westmeath (Leinster SFC v Louth):D Quinn; J Gilligan, K Maguire, K Daly; P Holloway, K Martin, J Dolan; D Daly, G Egan; P Sharry, R Connellan, J Stapleton; C McCormack, J Heslin, S Dempsey
