Gillis earns Derry recall

Magherafelt net minder Barry Gillis has been drafted into the Derry team for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier against Mayo (Celtic Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Gillis, who was ever-present in 2004 when Derry reached an All-Ireland semi-final, lost his place to Shane O'Kane for last weekend's win over Armagh but has earned a quick recall.

That is Derry boss Paddy Crozier's only change to the team that ended Armagh's summer.

Former All-Star Enda Muldoon remains on the sideline despite his recovery from a recent bout of 'flu, but his Ballinderry club-mate Conleith Gilligan has been included again after recovering from a dead leg.

Although he is close to making a return, Derry captain Kevin McGuckin is still not quite back to match fitness after the fractured leg he sustained in a league game in April.

Crozier has made a number of positional switches with Gilligan now stationed at top of the left and Paul Murphy taking over at centre-forward.

Barry McGoldrick has also been taken out of the full-forward line and moved to right half-forward.

Encouraged by last weekend's 0-10 to 0-9 victory over Armagh, Crozier is hopeful of his side putting together back-to-back performances.

"I have followed Mayo football over the past number of years closely and I also know a bit about this current side under the guidance of John O'Mahony. They play a different style of game to Armagh with a lot of speed and movement, and their impressive win over Cavan last Saturday will have done untold good for their confidence," said the Oak Leaf supremo.

"They are a team that can really hurt you if they are allowed to settle early. That is why it is important that we settle down early in the game, try to impose ourselves on them, and hopefully with a big home support they will give the Derry players the 'lift' to go on and win the game.

"It has all the makings of a real thriller, and hopefully our boys do themselves justice on this occasion. That is why consistency in our play is so important."

DERRY (SFC v Mayo) - B Gillis; M McGoldrick, K McCloy, G O'Kane; L Hinphey, SM Lockhart, F McEldowney; F Doherty, J Conway; B McGoldrick, P Murphy, M Lynch; C Devlin, Paddy Bradley, C Gilligan.