Football

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte names unchanged line-up for Ulster semi-final clash with Donegal

STANDFIRST

Conall McCann will start at midfield for Tyrone against Donegal in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final
Conall McCann will start at midfield for Tyrone against Donegal in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final Conall McCann will start at midfield for Tyrone against Donegal in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte has kept faith with the team that saw off Derry last month for Sunday’s showdown with Donegal at Clones.

Harte has opted to leave fit-again defenders Cathal McCarron and Justin McMahon on the bench for the Ulster semi-final, meaning that former U21 star Padraig Hampsey retains his place at corner-back alongside Aidan McCrory and Ronan McNamee.

Another youngster who impressed against Derry – Killyclogher clubman Conall McCann – is also named in midfield alongside the experienced Colm Cavanagh while Mattie Donnelly is listed to start the game in a full-forward line that also includes Sean Cavanagh and Mark Bradley.

The Clones tie will be the fifth meeting of the sides in the last six seasons, with the Red Hands winning last year’s Ulster final clash to end a run of defeats. Both sides enjoyed straightforward quarter-final victories – Tyrone dominated Derry to win by 11 points at Celtic Park a week after Donegal had blitzed Antrim by 16 points in Ballybofey.

Meanwhile, Roscommon manager Kevin McStay has announced his team to play Leitrim in Sunday’s Connacht semi-final in Dr Hyde Park.

McStay gives Championship debuts to goalkeeper Colm Lavin, Tadhg O Rourke and Brian Stack of the St Brigid’s club.

The Ciaráin Murtagh led team shows a number of changes to the side that started against Cavan in the final game of the Allianz National League on April 2.

Gary Patterson, Ultan Harney (injured), Cian Connolly and Cathal Compton (injured) all make way for John McManus, Sean Mullooly, Brian Stack and Fintan Cregg.

Tyrone (Ulster SFC v Donegal): N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee, P Hampsey; T McCann, R Brennan, P Harte; C Cavanagh, C McCann; K McGeary, N Sludden, C Meyler; M Bradley, S Cavanagh, M Donnelly

Subs: M O’Neill, L Brennan, F Burns, M Cassidy, C McCarron, D McClure, D McCurry, J McMahon, C McShane, D Mulgrew, R O'Neill, R Donnelly, C McCullagh, HP McGeary, R McHugh, P McNulty

Roscommon (Connacht SFC v Leitrim): C Lavin; D Murray, J McManus, N McInerney; S McDermott, S Mullooly, C Devaney; T O’Rourke, E Smith; F Cregg, N Kilroy, B Stack; C Murtagh, D Murtagh, D Smith