Derry vs Clare: Rory Gallagher provides an injury update ahead of Banner battle

msn.com:

All-Ireland SFC quarter-final: Derry vs Clare (Saturday, Croke Park, 3. 45pm, live on Sky Sports Arena) Derry manager Rory Gallagher is expecting to have a clean bill of health ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Clare at Croke Park.

Niall Loughlin was forced off in the Ulster SFC semi-final win over Monaghan with a back injury and the same issue led to him being replaced midway through the second half of last month’s Ulster Final victory over Donegal.

Loughlin hit 0-7 in the Ulster quarter-final win over 2021 All-Ireland champions Tyrone in Healy Park and he had scored 1-2 against Donegal before being replaced by Emmett Bradley. Read more: Brendan Rogers insists Derry aren't bothered by critics following their historic Ulster title success Gallagher says the four-week break has helped his players recover from the exertions of extra-time in Clones as the Oak Leafers claimed their first provincial title with a 1-16 to 1-14 defeat of Declan Bonner’s men. “Niall (Loughlin) twinged his back that day against Monaghan and it flared up again (against Donegal),” said Gallagher. “Thankfully, the four-week gap has helped and he returned to full training last week. "We’ll monitor it, but we expect him to be good to go.

There’s no reason he shouldn’t be fit to play. “Extra-time (in the Ulster Final) didn’t take all that much out of the players - it didn’t stop them celebrating for a few days afterwards!“Naturally, there was a lot of tiredness and fatigue, but they got over that pretty quickly with the emotional high of winning. ”The draw for the last eight of the Championship also helped focus the minds of the Derry players as they learned their opponents.