Four Eoghan Rua men in McKenna Cup panel

The return of Niall Holly will bolster McIver’s options around midfield, the Coleraine man missed most of last season through injury but Holly is now approaching full fitness again and his return will be a boost for both club and county.

Also back in the panel is Ciaran McGoldrick, he enjoyed a productive season for Eoghan Rua while Sean Leo McGoldrick and Declan Mullan make up the Coleraine quartet.

No Ballinderry players have been included in the McKenna Cup panel as yet because the Shamrocks will be preparing for their All-Ireland club semi-final in early February.

Derry manager McIver could add four or five Ballinderry men once their interest in the All-Ireland series is over, however if they go all the way to the St Patricks day final they will only be available for the last two rounds of the league campaign.

The likes of Ryan Bell, Collie Devlin, Ryan Scott, Daniel McKinless, Conor Nevin and possibly a return for midfielder James Conway could all add to the strength of the Oak Leaf men for their return to Division 1.

Derry begin their PowerNI McKenna Cup campaign with a trip to the home of the Ulster champions, Clones to face Monaghan on Sunday 5th January with a 2.30pm start. They follow that up with a home game on Sunday 12th January where they take on Fermanagh, under former Down All-Ireland winning manager Pete McGrath, at Owenbeg, 2.30pm throw-in. Their final round-robin game is another home tie, this time under lights at Owenbeg on Wednesday 15th January where St Mary’s

The winners of the group will go through to the semi-finals on Sunday 19th January with the final fixed for Saturday 25th January.

McKenna Cup squad for 2014:

Thomas Mallon, Aidan Mc Alynn, Anthony O’Neill (Loup), Charlie Kielt, James Kielt (Kilrea), Oisin Duffy, Niall McFeely (Foreglen), Declan Brown, Fergal Doherty, Peter Cassidy (Bellaghy), Mark Lynch (Banagher), Mickey Mc Shane, Benny Heron, Carlus Mc Williams, Dermot Mc Bride, Ciaran Conway (Ballinascreen), Conor Mc Atamney, James Kearney (Swatragh), Kevin Johnston, Mark Craig (Dungiven), Sean Leo Mc Goldrick, Niall Holly, Ciaran McGoldrick, Declan Mullan (Eoghan Rua), Patsy Bradley, Paudie Mc Guigan (Slaughtneil), Ciaran Mc Faul (Glen), Emmett Mc Guckin (Magherafelt), Enda Lynn (Greenlough), Eoin Mc Nicholl, Gerard O’Kane, Neill McNicholl (Glenullin), Aaron Kerrigan (Claudy).