Donegal boss Jim McGuinness has made three changes for this Sunday’s clash with Cavan at Breffni Park.
Marty Boyle replaces injured Frank McGlynn in the half-backs while Kevin Rafferty and Michael Hegarty take over from Adrian Hanlon and Dermot Molloy.
Rafferty’s selection at midfield will see Martin McElhinney moving to the attack, it was announced this evening.
Hanlon has been dropped from the team for disciplinary reasons.
Molloy will be a sub while veteran Hegarty is recalled at full-forward.
Hegarty is pleased to be back, saying: “Jim McGuinness has great respect for the players and he is a great communicator.
“There is a great method in everything he does and he is close enough to some of us in age.
“And he is so passionate that you just don’t want to let him down.
“It is a very contented squad and we are very focused.”
The good news is that both captain Michael Murphy and Rory Kavanagh have passed fitness tests.
Leo McLoone however is not yet match fit.
Brilliant Kilcar teenager Patrick McBrearty will be on the bench.
Cavan will have eight Ulster SFC debutants in their team for the provincial quarter-final.
James McEnroe, Patrick Carroll, Dane O’Dowd, Niall Murray and Damien Reilly, Gearóid McKiernan, Fergal Flanagan and Niall McDermott get their first championship starts in attack.
Cavan: J Reilly; J McEnroe, P Carroll, D O’Dowd; N Murray, J McCutcheon, D Reilly, R Cullivan, D Givney, G McKiernan, M Lyng, F Flanagan, N McDermott, E Keating, S Johnston.
Donegal: P Durcan, K Lacey, E McGee, P McGrath, M Boyle, A Thompson, K Cassidy, R Kavanagh, K Rafferty, M McElhinney, M Hegarty, R Bradley, C McFadden, M Murphy, M McHugh.
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