It seems appropriate that Damian Cassidy should select another experimental team for Derry's final Division 1 group game against Donegal. Experimentation has been the staple diet of the Oakleafer's 2009 campaign, and so it continues.
Despite only winning one out of four games in March, Derry are still in contention to successfully defend their NFL title. A win against Donegal at Glen, coupled with a Kerry victory over Galway is the bare minimum if Derry are to progress to an NFL Final rematch with the Kingdom. However, judging by his team selection for Sunday's game, it is unlikely that Cassidy will have a radio stuck to his ears sweating on news from Tralee.
The Oakleaf team shows eight changes from the side beaten in Omagh a fortnight ago. Brian Óg McAlary featured in Derry's earlier games in the corner back position (starting against Mayo and Westmeath; coming on as substitute against Galway), and this weekend he is given a chance to display his capabilities in the half-back line.
The half-back line has been Derry's most settled division throughout the league, and McAlary will replace the hitherto ever-present Paul Cartin, as the Derry management explore further options in this sector.
Joe Keenan gets his chance to impress at corner-back (in place of Sean Martin Lockhart); it will be the Magherafelt man's first outing of the campaign. He will play in front of his clubmate Barry Gillis who returns as goalkeeper, while Kevin McGuckin comes in at full-back to replace Kevin McCloy.
Seamus Bradley started in Ballina for Derry's opening game against Mayo, and the Ballinascreen forward has had to wait until the final game to get another chance. He will feature in a full-forward line missing the injured Paddy Bradley (hamstring), but including, for the first time this season, Mark Lynch. Lynch has been injured throughout the winter, but will feature against Donegal after playing for Banagher last weekend. His return comes as a boost to a Derry forward division that has lacked a cutting edge in recent games. Eoin Bradley continues at full-forward, and he will hope to rekindle the scoring form he displayed against Dublin.
Enda Lynn returns to the half-forward line following an ankle injury that kept him out of the games against Galway and Tyrone. Lynn impressed at Parnell Park in March, helping Derry cut open the Dublin defence on countless occasions.
He will be joined in the half-forward line by Brian Mullan (replacing Paul Murphy at centre-forward). The Glenullin man has shown great adaptibility this season, fitting naturally into Derry's system of play in the wing forward position. He will assume a different role in the centre on Sunday as Damian Cassidy continues to consider his options for the Monaghan game in May.
To that end, Patsy Bradley and Enda Muldoon will get another chance to provide Derry's midfield pairing. It has been a reasonably successful partnership in the previous two games (in the absence of Fergal Doherty), with Bradley's workrate complementing the attacking wisdom of Muldoon. Another good performance from these two can help propel Derry to victory against Donegal.
The Derry fans making the Easter Sunday trip to Glen will hope that aim can be achieved. If it is, there may still be a few disappointed faces if Galway get a result in Kerry, but League Final qualification is not the main objective for this Derry team. With the opening game in the Ulster Championship a short six weeks away, the Derry management will be more concerned about how the Derry players fit into the system of play, in what might be the final game before the Celtic Park clash with Monaghan.
Like most, if not all, Oakleaf fans I wish to see Derry spar with Kerry once again for a National title. And despite needing two games to go our way, it is an entirely plausible outcome. No doubt there will be constant updates from Tralee in the Watty Graham Park stands. Damian Cassidy might not appear to be as concerned, but he knows that a Final appearance with Kerry would provide his side with excellent championship preparation. Kerry stopped Derry in their tracks at Bellaghy in March, and another clash would help answer a few questions that might still linger, just one month away from the USFC.
Donegal have been below-par in this NFL campaign, and they will be fighting for Division 1 survival at Glen. Wins over Tyrone and Westmeath have given them that fighting chance, but I expect an eager Derry to claim the points. The impending Championship will be at the forefront of the Derry players minds, but you could forgive them for allowing those same minds to think about some early-season silverware. A win at Glen would at least make this a possibility.
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