Donegal's Devenney gets deserved rest

Brendan Devenney will get a well-earned rest this weekend as he sits out Donegal's final game in NFL Division 1A before the league's knock-out stages come into view.

The 28-year-old forward has been in inspirational form throughout the league campaign, with his scoring contributions against Mayo (0-4), Dublin (0-3) and Kerry (0-7) proving crucial as Donegal claimed five wins and a draw in their six games so far.

Their seventh and final outing of the regulation phase sees them at home to bottom side Fermanagh on Sunday afternoon (Ballybofey, throw-in 3.30pm).

With his side safely through to the semi-finals, Donegal manager Brian McIver has opted to make nine changes to the team that started last week's draw with Limerick.

The sharp-shooting Devenney, who this week claimed both the Vodafone GAA All-Star award for March and the Tennent's/Ulster GAA Writers' Merit award for March, is one of the players to be rested.

Paul Durcan has been replaced in goals by Michael Boyle, who will have new inclusions Neil McGee, Peter Witherow and Frank McGlynn in front of him in defence. Paddy Campbell, Paddy McConigley and Barry Monaghan are the players to make way.

Rory Kavanagh has been given a role in midfield, with Kevin Cassidy being dropped, and up front, Christy Toye, Leon Thompson and Adrian Sweeney, three of the Tir Chonaill men's goalscorers against Limerick, as well as Devenney, have all been taken out of the starting line-up.

Johnny McLoone, Denis Boyle, Benny Byrne and Michael Doherty have take their places and been given a timely chance to impress McIver with the league semi-finals set to be played at Croke Park as a double bill on Sunday week.

DONEGAL (NFL v Fermanagh) - M Boyle; P Witherow, N McGee, T Donoghue; F McGlynn, K Lacey, E McGee; J Friel, R Kavanagh; J McLoone, M Hegarty, R Bradley; D Boyle, B Byrne, M Doherty.