County Derry Post

Derry manager Paddy Crozier is hopeful that he will see some of his injured stars return to action during tomorrow night’s McKenna Cup semi-final clash with Fermanagh at Healy Park (8pm).

By Chris McCann                                                                                                                                                                              sport@derrypost.com

The Ballymaguigan man is optimistic that skipper Kevin McCloy, and forward duo Paul Murphy and Eoin Bradley will all be available to play some part in the meeting with the Erne men, if only from the bench.

“We’ve our first National League game coming up on the Saturday after next and it’s important that some of these boys get some football. Hopefully the medical staff will give us the all clear to give Paul, Eoin and Kevin 10 or 15 minutes from the bench,” said Crozier.

Even if that trio do return to action the list of absentees that Crozier has to cope with is still staggering.

Conleith Gilligan is still some weeks away after a hernia operation and Sean Martin Lockhart is still out after an operation to correct a longstanding finger injury.

Bellaghy’s Joe Diver is 10 weeks away from a return after surgery on a hip while Desertmartin defender Ruairi Murray is awaiting a second hernia operation in two weeks’ time after already undergoing one procedure earlier this month.

Glenullin half-back Gerard O’Kane will be out for the first half of the National League as he recovers from a dislocated shoulder.

Bellaghy corner-back Michael McGoldrick could also miss the bulk of the league programme with a recurring hamstring problem while Slaughtneil midfielder Patsy Bradley’s recovery from a broken arm has been slower than anticipated and he faces another six week on the sidelines.

The Derry boss also revealed that Claudy forward Gavin Donaghy has opted off the panel as he is planning to go travelling in the near future.

“Gavin is planning to go to Australia soon and as he couldn’t commit to the long-term he has opted out of the squad,” explained the Derry manager.  With such a long list of injured players, Crozier is likely to once again give some of the county’s fringe players the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the National League squad.  “The players that have come in have done well and some of the Under 21s that we have used such as Rian Kealey have really stepped up,” he said.  The Derry boss also revealed that Swatragh midfielder Michael Friel has been called up to the county panel.