McElhinney named in Donegal side

Martin McElhinney has been provisionally included in the Donegal team for today's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Kildare at Croke Park (throw-in 6pm).

The St. Michael's clubman is listed in midfield alongside Neil Gallagher, although Rory Kavanagh is rumoured to be a possible late inclusion in the side.

Kavanagh's proposed absence from the starting line-up is the only change to the Donegal team that started the recent Ulster final against Derry.

He damaged his ankle during the Anglo-Celt Cup decider and has been a doubtful starter all week, along with fellow midfielder Kevin Rafferty (groin).

Team captain Michael Murphy had to sit out training on Tuesday night with a slight hamstring problem. However, he is rated fit enough to start at full-forward.

Fellow attacker Dermot 'Brick' Molloy has been included on the substitutes bench, having made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a knee injury.

Previewing the game, manager Jim McGuinness told the Donegal Democrat: "We have worked hard and upped the training since the Ulster final because we see this quarter-final as a great opportunity for this group of players.

"It is an opportunity that we do not want to let slip and we want to give it our best shot and while we face stiff opposition and it is obviously a difficult game for us to win, we go into it in confident mood.

"We'll look for all the players to put in a big performance and a big effort and even if we don’t get over the line and get the result we will be very proud of the players.

"They know that if they put in a big effort for the county that we will be more than happy and the county will be happy with them."

DONEGAL (SFC v Kildare): Paul Durcan; Frank McGlynn, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath; Anthony Thompson, Karl Lacey, Kevin Cassidy; Martin McElhinney, Neil Gallagher; Mark McHugh, Michael Hegarty, Ryan Bradley; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy (capt), Colm McFadden.