Bradley is urged to return to Derry squad

TEAM NEWS: PADDY BRADLEY has been urged by his brother, Eoin, to end his stand-off with Derry football manager Damien Cassidy before their All-Ireland qualifier clash with Westmeath.

The skilful forward didn’t travel for the recent win over Carlow after he had to settle for a place on the bench. It’s the second time Paddy Bradley has dropped off to the Derry panel, but his brother has appealed for one of Ireland’s most feared forwards to help his side in the All-Ireland series.

“Hopefully, he comes back for the next day,” said Eoin. “I don’t live with him or anything so I don’t really know what he’s thinking, but I think something can be done.

“He is probably one of the best forwards in Ireland over the last 10 years. It’s not really something I should be commenting on, but hopefully himself and Damien (Cassidy) will sort something out. He text me after the Carlow game to say ‘well done’ so his heart is still in Derry football.”

Meanwhile, Michael Magill has been recalled to the Antrim squad for Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier replay against Kildare at Casement Park.

The forward was dropped from the panel last month after a disciplinary breach. Magill featured for Antrim in their league campaign and his physical presence provides another attacking option for boss Liam Bradley.

Jim McGuinness has emerged as the early front runner for the Donegal football manager’s job while Noel Connelly has emerged as the favourite for the post of Mayo football manager.

Donegal captain Kevin Cassidy has announced his intercounty retirement.

Dean Rock has left the Dublin football panel in the wake of Sunday’s loss to Meath. The AllIreland under-21 winner will fly out to Boston today where he will spend the rest of the summer.

Team-mate Eamonn Fennell failed in his latest bid for a transfer from O’Toole’s to St Vincent’s, county board delegates voting 39-21 against the proposed move.

TV3 have revealed that 528,000 watched Meath beat Dublin at Croke Park. By comparison, 400,000 watched the England versus Germany match on RTÉ.

KERRY(MFC v Cork): P McCarthy; P Kilkenny, D Culhane, F McNamara; J Walsh, L Bastible, J Hickson; D Somers, G Durrant; M Reen, T Hickey, G O'Leary; B Dwyer, G O'Grady, É O'Connor.