Donegal's ace marksman Paddy McBrearty could be in line for a starting slot against Tyrone in Sunday’s Ulster semi-final clash in Clones.
McBrearty has not started since sustaining an injury against Roscommon in February, but he sent a clear message to manager Rory Gallagher that he is ready for battle with a goalscoring cameo against Antrim in the provincial quarter-final last month.
And Gallagher confirmed the Kilcar man's well-being by saying: “Patrick’s flying."
“In and around the Antrim game we were probably training him quite hard because he had missed a bit of training. He is back and he is in fine fettle.
“We would very much expect that he would start, yeah. He is in our starting plans. He is a very talented footballer and we just made a decision as to where he was at."
Meanwhile, Gallagher believes that referees are now better equipped to deal with the targeting of top players like Michael Murphy.
“It has happened over the years," he said.
“Peter Canavan was a small man but he came in for a lot of treatment. You have Michael, Kieran Donaghy , Aidan O’Shea, big men who have to work hard to win frees.
“Referees are smart, they talk, they communicate. They have noticed that in the last year. They have noticed that the big players are being targeted.
“Diarmuid Connolly isn’t as big, but he comes in for a lot of attention. Allstar players get that treatment.
“I do believe that referees are better equipped to deal with it now."
Gallagher was given another boost with the news that towering corner-back Kieran Gillespie is back for the first time since the National League match against Monaghan in the spring.
“He is in the squad for the first time since the Monaghan match and he is fully-fit," he said.
Gallagher had been concerned earlier about injuries picked up by captain Murphy and Neil McGee in club matches a few weeks ago, but the pair should be fit to take their places on Sunday.
“I was very concerned," said the Fermanagh native.
“I was up watching the Tyrone and Derry game and was told that Michael Murphy had been stretchered off and there was talk of ambulances and one thing and another but, fortunately, none of that was true.
“But our fears were allayed very quickly, Cathal Ellis, our physio, went to Michael’s house and found that it was just bruising."
Last year Murphy was hampered by an ankle niggle, but Gallagher believes his nearing full speed again.
“You never make excuses, he had niggles before," he said.
“And he has gone into games where other people might not have played but he is in really good nick.
“He got himself in good shape early on and for him to go in injury-free is nice."
Karl Lacey is also fit after shaking off a calf injury while U21 star Michael Langan has also recovered from a knee injury picked up in a club match.
On Sunday Gallagher will be pinning his hopes on youth and pace against a Tyrone side they will be meeting for the fifth time in six years.
