FERMANAGH V DERRY

Brewster Park, today, 5pm BBC SPORT

CONOR glass and Chrissy McKaigue are named in Derry’s 26-man squad after missing the Division 2 League final defeat by Dublin a fortnight ago.

This should mean they are capable of playing some role in the game.

When glass (inset) was down injured against Dublin, the home side scored their first goal, and after he went off Derry struggled to contain Con o’Callaghan and co.

glass’s consistent ability on defensive interventions is as good as there is around.

McKaigue was also a loss, as was teenage full back Eoin McEvoy, who had a strong league, and is named on the bench.

Much will depend on the fitness of this trio. If two of them are right, Derry should just have enough, but the handicap looks all wrong.

It was a big fortnight for Rory gallagher in how he packaged the Dublin defeat to his players. The concession of eight goal chances will have made it a tricky sale.

The suspicion is Fermanagh are better than they showed in the Division 3 final loss to Cavan.

They showed a lot of spirit to eke out big wins over antrim and Down in the dying stages. Those type of victories galvanise a team.

Ultan Kelm is a huge handful and his likely battle with Conor McCluskey — pace versus pace — is the key duel. If McKaigue is fit he could take on Darragh Mcgurn.

If Derry win here, Fermanagh will struggle to score enough.

Che Cullen may hold at three and let someone else go after Shane Mcguigan if he roams out. Luke Flanagan could tag niall Loughlin.

Saturday night at Brewster Park is a big test of Derry’s mentality.

They’d take a one-point win with Tyrone awaiting the victors.

H 15/2 D 16/1 A 1/12 vERDicT: Derry