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Derry's Dermot McBride is 'highly unlikely' to face Tyrone

Derry's Dermot McBride is highly unlikely to feature against Tyrone according to assistant manager Brian McGuckin  
Derry's Dermot McBride is highly unlikely to feature against Tyrone according to assistant manager Brian McGuckin   Derry's Dermot McBride is highly unlikely to feature against Tyrone according to assistant manager Brian McGuckin  

DESPITE making his club comeback last Friday night, Dermot McBride is “highly unlikely” to feature in Derry’s Ulster SFC quarter-final clash with Tyrone on May 22.

The tough-tackling McBride lined out at centre-back and completed his first 60 minutes of competitive football since January 16 in Ballinascreen’s victory over Glen. However, Derry’s highly-anticipated showdown with the Red Hands at Celtic Park looks to have come too soon for the 27-year-old.

“Dermot McBride played his first club game there on Friday night after a three month lay-off, so it’s highly unlikely that he will be playing at Celtic Park,” said Oak Leaf assistant boss Brian McGuckin.

The chances of Enda Lynn returning in time for the Tyrone game were also described as “highly unlikely”. The Greenlough forward suffered a broken ankle during the Dr McKenna Cup and is on the comeback trail, with McGuckin confident he could play a part in Derry’s next Championship game after May 22.

On the comeback trail, however, is Dungiven’s Kevin Johnston, with former Tyrone star McGuckin confirming he has returned to full training, as well as featuring in challenge matches: “Kevin is back in full training. He has played a couple of challenge games with us and he’s also played a couple of games with his club, so his chances are much greater [than Dermot McBride’s]," he added.

“Enda is highly unlikely to feature against Tyrone but, beyond Tyrone, we would fully expect that Enda will be available. He’s literally only back on the pitch, he’s only working with the physio at this stage, so he isn’t back in full training yet.”

Meanwhile, Oak Leaf boss Damian Barton has urged the Derry support to come to Celtic Park in their droves as his players intend to deliver “something to be proud of”: “They’re good supporters - I would like more of them because the boys have worked very, very hard,” he said. 

“Our ambition is to go and perform and perform for them, so I think it would be a blessing if they were to support the team in numbers. Our expectation is that we’re going to give them something to be proud of on that day and in the days after that. 

“This is a very proud county and, sometimes when success has not been readily there, it makes it a wee bit more difficult. But you can’t beat the Ulster Championship and, certainly, Derry and Tyrone adds that bit more spice to it.”