By Michael McMullan

MICKEY Harte has made five changes to his Derry side for the visit of Down on Saturday night in Celtic Park (6pm).

All-Star quartet Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Gareth McKinless and Shane McGuigan are listed to start.

Missing out are Dan Higgins, Conor McGrogan, Ben McCarron and Patrick McGurk.

The other change sees Ryan Scullion make his Dr McKenna Cup debut in goals, just his second appearance at senior level after featuring in their league draw with Cork last season.

The Oakleafers will have a familiar face in the in opposition camp with Ciarán Meenagh not part of Conor Laverty’s management team.

Laverty also coached Derry for a spell under Damian McErlain with selector Mickey Donnelly having spent time as the Oakleaf u-20 manager, leading them to the 2018 title.

Laverty has selected eight of the team that lost last season’s Tailteann Cup final to Meath for their first outing of 2024.

Finn McElroy and Ryan Magill – both suffering from injury last season – are listed on the bench.

The Mourne County will conclude the group stages with the visit of Cavan on Wednesday night.

Derry: Ryan Scullion; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Chrissy McKaigue; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Paudi McGrogan; Donncha Gilmore, Brendan Rogers; Ruairi Forbes, Declan Cassidy, Paul Cassidy; Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin
Subs: Jack Cassidy, Mark Doherty, Dan Higgins, Ben McCarron, Conor McGrogan, Patrick McGurk, Cahir McMonagle

Down: John O’Hare; Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Patrick McCarthy; Micéal Rooney, Daniel Guinness, Pierce Laverty; Odhrán Murdock, Johnny Flynn; Ceilum Doherty, Liam Kerr, James Guinness; Gareth McKibben, Pat Havern, Oisin Savage
Subs: Niall Kane, Finn McElroy, Anthony Doherty, Pearse McCabe, Pol Quinn, Conor McCrickard, Andrew Gilmore, Ryan Magill, Niall McParland, Gerard Collins