Tyrone name a depleted starting XV
Thursday, 25 May 2006 22:262005 Footballer of the Year Stephen O'Neill has lost his fitness battle ahead of this weekend's Ulster Football Championship clash with Derry.
The Tyrone full forward is ruled out by a hamstring injury, but there's better news on Owen Mulligan, who has recovered from a foot injury, and his inclusion will be a massive boost to a depleted attack.
The inclusion of Mulligan, though, is just one positive note in a week of bleak developments on the injury front for the All-Ireland champions will take the field at Healy Park with a severely weakened side.
Gerard Cavlan, Mickey McGee, Joe McMahon, and Martin Penrose have failed to make it, and manager Mickey Harte has had to make significant alterations.
Cormac McGinley comes in at full back for his first championship game in three seasons, with Conor Gormley moving out to centre back, and Ciaran Gourley comes into the left corner for McGee.
The midfield partnership of Sean Cavanagh and Kevin Hughes, who starred in Tyrone's first All-Ireland triumph in 2003, will both play in attack, Cavanagh at centre forward and Hughes on the edge of the square.
Colin Holmes will be partnered at midfield by Peter Donnelly, while there's a debut for Raymond Mulgrew at left half forward.
Tyrone XV to play Derry: P McConnell; R McMenamin, C McGinley, C Gourley; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; C Holmes, P Donnelly; B Dooher, S Cavanagh, R Mulgrew; R Mellon, K Hughes, O Mulligan.
