Allianz National Football League Division Three: Derry v Longford (today, 4.30pm, Celtic Park, live on GAAGO)
FROM the moment the first lockdown was announced back in March, Rory Gallagher was determined to make the best of however long Derry would be waiting in the wings.
In the five National League games played before the pandemic took hold, the Oak Leafers threw him a mixed bag in his first campaign at helm. Lucky to get a draw at home against Leitrim, unlucky not to win away in Down then victories over Tipperary and Louth before defeat to runaway Division Three leaders Cork.
With time at their disposal, and focus turning towards their Championship date with Armagh as their promotion hopes hang by a thread, Gallagher wanted his young players to go away and get stronger.
The plates were shifted in his backroom team during this time too, with Tyrone native Peter Hughes coming on board as strength and conditioning coach and Paul Burns as physiotherapist.
Anne Marie Mulholland, who works with Ulster Rugby, comes in as a nutritionist, St Enda’s, Omagh stalwart Hugh Gallagher is the new team doctor while former county ’keeper Thomas Mallon steps back from playing to become the new new goalkeeping coach.
Today will be the first test of what progress has been made when they welcome Longford – reluctantly – to Celtic Park, the midlanders having seen an appeal to have the game played elsewhere rejected during the week.
Gallagher is determined to build a settled panel in the county after years of to-ing and fro-ing, but there are a few changes to the panel he was working with in the spring.
Niall Keenan, Conor McAtamney and Ryan Bell are no longer involved, while Coleraine pair Liam McGoldrick and Ruairi Mooney miss out due to injury.
In come Paul McNeill, Ethan Doherty – joining brothers Alex and Jack - goalkeeper Connlan Bradley and young Bellaghy forward Paul Cassidy, though it is the return of former minor star Conor Glass from Australia which has garnered most attention.
The 23-year-old midfielder attended county training during the week and while he is not expected to start straight off, he could well be included in the 26.
Longford have been Derry’s bogey side in recent times, having toppled the Oak Leafers in four of their five times between 2003 and 2014.
However, the chances of maintaining that streak – and of keeping their promotions chances alive – have suffered a serious blow with the loss of playmaker Mickey Quinn. The former AFL ace has taken a step back for the remainder of 2020, but intends to return next year.
Boss Padraic Davis welcomes Robbie Smyth and Larry Moran back into the fold after long-term injury, while Colm P Smyth and Liam Hughes are drafted into the starting 15.
However, the loss of Quinn is a huge one, and shifts the balance firmly in Derry’s favour.
Derry: TBC
Longford: P Collum; P Fox, A Farrell, B O'Farrell; CP Smyth, G Rogers, L Hughes; D Gallagher, K Diffley; D McElligott, D Mimnagh, D Reynolds; R Brady, L Connerton, O Kenny
