Armagh unchanged for Derry date

In selecting his team to face Derry in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final, Armagh manager Paddy O'Rourke has kept faith with the side that beat Down last time out.

Mayo native Billy Joe Padden continues at centre-forward after making his Championship bow for the Orchard men in their encouraging 1-15 to 1-10 win over last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists.

Captain Ciaran McKeever, whom O'Rourke has dubbed 'the blood of the team', will line out at centre-back again, having shown no ill-effects from a recent knee ligament injury.

Corner forward Jamie Clarke, who netted against Down, was a goal-scoring substitute in Armagh's 1-10 to 1-07 win over Derry in last year's Ulster Championship.

Brian Mallon, Finnian Moriarty and Vincent Martin have been held in reserve for Sunday's encounter in Clones (throw-in 2pm) along with James Lavery, who has shaken off an ankle injury.

The prize on offer this weekend is a place in the Ulster final on Sunday, July 17 against either Donegal or Tyrone.

ARMAGH (SFC v Derry): Paul Hearty; Andy Mallon, Brendan Donaghy, Kevin Dyas; Aaron Kernan, Ciaran McKeever (capt), Paul Duffy; Kieran Toner, Charlie Vernon; Tony Kernan, Billy Joe Padden, Malachy Mackin; Micheal O'Rourke, Steven McDonnell, Jamie Clarke.

Subs: Philip McEvoy, Gavin McParland, Colm Watters, Finnian Moriarty, John Murtagh, Brian Mallon, Vincent Martin, Declan McKenna, James Lavery, David McKenna, Rory Grugan.