Derry receive double selection boost ahead of Mayo showdown

Gareth McKinless is available to Derry again following suspension

John Campbell

Derry football team manager Mickey Harte has not had his sorrows to seek of late but suddenly a fresh wave of optimism has inculcated his team.

Having ended a traumatic three-game spell of defeats by getting the better of Westmeath last weekend, the Oak Leaf side are rather more fired up for Saturday’s hugely attractive All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final tie against Mayo at MacHale, Park, Castlebar (6.30pm).

Harte has been more than happy to embrace a dual boost now that Gareth McKinless and Niall Toner are available to him, while the fact that Eoin McEvoy made an encouraging return to the side last weekend after having been out because of injury is another plus factor.

McKinless has served a two-match ban imposed following a stamping incident in the game against Galway, while Toner has had a niggling injury of late which, it appears, has now cleared up.

No one knows better than Harte that his side must win their next four matches if they are to get their hands on ‘Sam’ and that’s a particularly tall order given his team’s recent form.

They now go in against a Mayo side that had victory over Dublin snatched from their hands in the closing seconds of last weekend’s pulsating encounter when the Dubs managed to land what proved to be a precious point just as the final whistle was about to sound.

But while Harte has been provided with plenty of food for thought lately, he has never been one to shirk a challenge. With home advantage on Saturday, Mayo are likely to hit the ground running in a bid to impose their authority on the visitors.

And Monaghan’s Vinny Corey is another manager who will hope to see his side play with considerable conviction when they meet Galway in another All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final at Pearse Park, Salthill (4pm).

They were put to the test by Meath last weekend but will require to lift their game against a Galway side that is still hungry for Championship success.

Monaghan’s side is spliced with fresh faces among them Jason Irwin, Joe Wilson, Michael Hamill and Ciaran McNulty, while Killian Lavelle, Ryan McAnespie, Michael Bannigan, Stephen O’Hanlon, Jack McCarron and Conor McManus represent the older brigade.

Galway manager Pauric Joyce acknowledges that Monaghan are capable of testing his side but remains hopeful that their experience and finishing power can prove key assets in helping to bring them over the line.