Armagh unchanged for Derry clash

Armagh manager Joe Kernan has named an unchanged side for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier against Ulster rivals Derry (Clones, throw-in 4pm).

Both full-back Brendan Donaghy and midfielder Kieran Toner, who made their championship debuts last time out against Donegal, have kept hold of their starting places.

Goalkeeper Paul Hearty is also retained despite his late blunder in allowing a high ball to slip through his grasp which led to a crucial Donegal goal.

Kernan will be looking for improved performances from experienced attackers Diarmuid Marsden and Stephen McDonnell who only scored 0-3 between them in the 1-9 to 1-8 defeat to Donegal.

Francie Bellew, who recently had a knee operation, remains sidelined while Ronan Clarke and Brian Mallon, who both underwent cruciate ligament operations at the start of the year, are ruled out and JP Donnelly has also been struck by the cruciate curse.

Armagh beat Derry in their last championship clash, winning the sides' 2005 Ulster semi-final encounter by 1-11 to 0-10.

ARMAGH (SFC v Derry) - P Hearty; E McNulty, B Donaghy, A Mallon; A Kernan, K McGeeney, K McKeever; P McGrane (capt), K Toner; P McKeever, S Kernan, M O'Rourke; S McDonnell, D Marsden, O McConville.