McGuinness plays a strong hand for Tyrone with Eoghan Ban Gallagher returning

Eoghan Ban Gallagher of Donegal in action against Kieran McGeary and Michael O’Neill of Tyrone during the GAA Football All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final match last season

placeholder image — Eoghan Ban Gallagher of Donegal in action against Kieran McGeary and Michael O’Neill of Tyrone during the GAA Football All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final match last season

Donegal are looking to follow up on their 3-16 to 1-6 Dr McKenna Cup win over a young Armagh side against a Tyrone team playing for the first time in the competition, with Eoghan Ban Gallagher making his first appearance of 2024

Eoghan Ban Gallagher is in for his first game of 2024 for Donegal, who take on Tyrone at Healy Park in the Dr McKenna Cup Section A Round 1 on Sunday, throw-in 1pm.

Jim McGuinness's side made an encouraging start to the season's curtain-raising competition with a 3-16 to 1-6 win over an Armagh outfit made up of their U-20 panel, with Barry O'Hagan calling the shots. Michael Langan, Kevin McGettigan and Oisin Gallen were the Donegal goalscorers in front of 3,825 at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey.

All 14 of tomorrow's other starters made an appearance on Wednesday, either from the start or as a substitute. In all there were six debutants against Armagh - Daithi Roberts, Finbarr Roarty, Kevin McGettigan, Ciaran Moore, Seanan Carr and Oisin Caulfield. Karl Joseph Molloy of Armagh, named on the bench tomorrow, could become the eighth new face making a competitive bow in 2024.

Tyrone have yet to play this term and will meet Armagh in their third fixture in the three-team group on Wednesday night at 7:30pm at the Athletic Grounds. The group winners from the three groups in the Dr McKenna Cup progress to the semi-finals of the competition, along with the best runner-up.