By Dermot Keys
dermot@letterkennypost.com
St Eunan’s forward Brendan Devenney returned to training with the Donegal squad and has been given a chance to reclaim his place before their opening Ulster Championship game on June 1.
Rumours were rife that Devenney and Adrian Sweeney had been dropped from the panel following the league game against Derry in O’Donnell Park. The St Eunan’s man picked up a groin injury the night before the Derry match but has subsequently played competitive football with his club.
Devenney was back in training with the Donegal squad on Tuesday night and has been given two weeks to prove his level of fitness by manager Brian McIver. He was told that he needed to work on match fitness and has been actively playing the club since the start of their season.
He came off after half-time in their Championship game against Glenswilly, having scored 2-1, but will return for the home leg.
He missed out on Donegal’s defence of their Allianz National League title this year. The Donegal sharp-shooter was prevented from taking part in the league campaign due to injury and struggled with niggling stomach injury problems during last year’s championship.
Brian McIver has remained tight-lipped about the make-up of his panel in the run-up to the Derry game in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey. He did welcome the return of underage Glenswilly forward Michael Murphy, who was also training with Donegal after returning from injury. The young forward will be a welcome addition to the Donegal panel.
Both Murphy and Devenney could yet prove important in Donegal’s quest to win their first Ulster title since 1992.