Sport

Niall Sludden set to make Championship debut for Tyrone

Niall Sludden will make his Championship debut for Tyrone on Sunday  
Niall Sludden will make his Championship debut for Tyrone on Sunday   Niall Sludden will make his Championship debut for Tyrone on Sunday  

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte has made two enforced changes to the team which beat Cavan in the Division Two final last month for Sunday's trip to face Derry in the Ulster SFC quarter-final.

Niall Sludden, who will make his Championship debut, moves from wing forward to the half-back line as does Peter Harte. They will replace Justin McMahon and Rory Brennan, who are both ruled out by hamstring injuries.

The changes in the half-forward line are the introduction of Cathal McShane Cathal McShane and Richard Donnelly. Darren McCurry has recovered from injury, but has not been able to force his way into the starting fifteen, with Harte opting for in-form pair Ronan O’Neill and Connor McAliskey in the attacking corners.

Skipper Sean Cavanagh, the only remaining link with the 2003 breakthrough All-Ireland triumph, will make a record 79th championship appearance, skippering the team from full forward. Conor Meyler and Conor Clarke have both been ruled out by hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, while Niall Morgan has not recovered from a broken bone in a hand, with Mickey O’Neill once again playing in goal.

The Tyrone team includes 10 of the side who started last August’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry.

TEAM NEWS


Tyrone (Ulster SFC v Derry): M O’Neill, A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron, T McCann, N Sludden, P Harte, C Cavanagh, M Donnelly, C McShane, M Bradley, R Donnelly, C McAliskey, S Cavanagh, R O’Neill.


Wexford (Leinster SHC v Dublin): C O’Leary; L Ryan, M O’Hanlon, E Moore; D O’Keefe, P Foley, J O’Connor; E Conroy, A Kenny; L Og McGovern, P Doran, H Kehoe; P Morris, C McDonald, D Dunne.