Donegal sticking with side that beat Rebels
The Ulster champions have a clean bill of health and spent four days training last week at Johnstown House in Enfield, Co Meath, and then Carton House in Maynooth, Co Kildare.
Besides a couple of niggles here and there, the one real question mark was hanging over Ryan Bradley. The Buncrana club man was one of the leading lights in the provincial championship but struggled in Donegal’s 0-16 to 1-11 win over Cork, where Jim McGuinness later said the player had a shoulder injury.
Bradley was replaced after 29 minutes of that match by David Walsh, while Martin McElhinney has also played important roles of late, starting in the All-Ireland quarter final against Kerry and then coming off the bench again Cork.
“Ryan has started for us in every game in the Championship this year and has been playing well,” said Donegal assistant manager Rory Gallagher.
Centre-back Karl Lacey and centre-fielder Neil Gallagher both picked up minor hamstring injuries in a club match between their respective Four Masters and Glenswilly sides a week after the semi-final.
However, both players were withdrawn as a precautionary measure and trained the following week.
“We are very fortunate in that we are selecting from a fully fit squad,” Rory Gallagher continued. “A couple of players had minor strains, but they have all been integrated fully back into our training again and they’re all good to go for the weekend, thank God.”
Meanwhile Mayo are sweating over the fitness of midfielder Aidan O’Shea.
The Breaffy man tweaked his hamstring last week but is expected to play on Sunday. He took part in an A versus B game at the weekend but was hauled off after 10 minutes as a precaution. Lee Keegan is also likely to start following his finger injury.
DONEGAL: Durcan; McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn; A Thompson, K Lacey, E McGee, N Gallagher, R Kavanagh; R Bradley, L McLoone, M McHugh; P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
