Harte sticking with side routed by Mayo

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte named an unchanged team last night for Sunday’s crunch Allianz FL clash with Roscommon. After his team’s dismal nine-point hammering by Mayo, the expectation was that Harte would opt to make wholesale changes for the trip to Dr Hyde Park. His decision to announce an unchanged side will fuel speculation that Harte has named a dummy team, which could see a number of changes announced before the throw-in. After losing their opening two games, Sunday’s match, against opponents to whom they have not lost in 16 years, is seen as a must-win game for the Ulster men. Mayo team boss James Horan, on the other hand, is of a definite mind to experiment after opening his return to the sideline with two quick wins. He gives a debut to Colm Moran from Westport while former All-Ireland Under 21 winner Matthew Ruane makes his first start in a senior jersey when Cavan visit Castlebar. There are five changes in the team after last weekend’s win in Tyrone — into the side come David Clarke, Ger Cafferkey, Ruane, Evan Regan and Moran, at the expense of Rob Hennelly, Brendan Harrison, Donal Vaughan, Ciaran Treacy and Brian Reape. Meanwhile, the inter-county career of Laois dual star Cahir Healy is in doubt after it was confirmed he has sustained a cruciate ligament injury for the second time in 18 months.

TYRONE (SF v Roscommon): N Morgan; M McKernan, R McNamee, HP McGeary; T McCann, R Brennan, P Harte; B Kennedy, D McClure; M Donnelly, N Sludden, K McGeary; D McCurry, C McShane, L Brennan.

MAYO (SF v Cavan): D Clarke; S Coen, G Cafferkey, K Higgins; L Keegan, M Plunkett, P Durcan; D O’Connor, M Ruane; F McDonagh, A O’Shea, J Doherty; E Regan, A Moran, C Moran.