For the first time this season Derry have named an unchanged team. The side that starts next Sunday against Ulster champions Tyrone in Clones will be the same as defeated Cavan in the final All-Ireland qualifier round. There are no injuries troubling manager Eamonn Coleman so the county will be at full strength.
This means that Sean Martin Lockhart has recovered from the knock that necessitated his replacement at half-time against Cavan. Paul McFlynn's conversion from half back to wing forward is confirmed, not surprisingly after his three-point total in the last match.
Since losing to Tyrone in the Ulster semi-final, Derry have gradually regained their momentum and confidence in the county is high.
Tyrone's management has been forced to leave three vacancies in their starting line-up. Kevin Hughes, Eoin Mulligan and captain Sean Teague are struggling for fitness and their positions in the team are being held open to give them every chance to prove their fitness.
Hughes was involved in a motor accident earlier this week and is the most doubtful of the three. Teague injured his shoulder in the Ulster final against Cavan but looks likely to be passed fit, while Mulligan, who sustained a hamstring injury during a training session, has also returned to training this week.
One change has been made to the Tyrone team with Chris Lawn taking over at full back while Colin Holmes - the likely replacement for Teague if necessary - switches to left corner back in place of the injured Michael McGee.
Derry: O McCloskey; G Doherty, K McCloy, SM Lockhart; K McNally, G Coleman, F Crossan; A Tohill, F Doherty; P McFlynn, D Dougan, J McBride; P Bradley, E Muldoon, G Diamond.
Tyrone: F McConnell; C Gourley, C Lawn, C Holmes; R McMenamin, AN Other, D McCrossan; CMcAnallen, AN Other; B Dooher, S O'Neill, Paschal Canavan; AN Other, Peter Canavan, G Cavlan. Subs: M Conway, C McGinley, S McCallan, E Gormley, C McBride, D Gormley, B McGuigan, R Thornton, C McRory, M McGee.
