Derry and Limerick unchanged for qualifier
Limerick are in action for the third consecutive weekend, but are travelling the qualifier route following their Munster final replay defeat to Kerry last Saturday.
Their assignment today is Derry, who defeated Wexford convincingly last weekend to book their place in Round 4. The sides lock horns at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon this afternoon.
Despite last week's loss, Limerick manager Liam Kearns has selected the same starting line-up for the first championship meeting between the sides.
The Treatymen are desperate to win and ensure a quarter-final match at Croke Park.
Unsurprisingly Derry manager Mickey Moran has named an unchanged line-up from that which defeated the Slaneysiders.
However, the northerners are still without the services of Sean Martin Lockhart and Jim Kelly. Kelly has a torn hamstring.
Star defender and team captain Lockhart has not fully recovered from a leg infection and Paddy Kelly deputises for him, despite Lockhart coming on as a substitute last week.
The northerners are on a roll, and their championship campaign is back on track after qualifier wins over Wicklow, Cavan and Wexford.
Limerick will find it difficult to play a third match in so short a space of time and the physical and psychological ramifications of Munster finals lost may cost them today.
DERRY (SF v Limerick); B Gillis; K McGuckin, N McCusker, G O’Kane; F McEldowney, P McFlynn, P Kelly; P Bradley, F Doherty; J Donaghy, J McBride, C Moran; J Bradley, P Bradley, E Muldoon.
LIMERICK (SF v Derry): S O’Donnell; M O’Riordan, J McCarthy, T Stack; C Mullane, S Lucey, S Lavin; J Quane, J Galvin; S Kelly, M Gavin, J Stokes; M O’Brien, E Keating, C Fitzgerald.
