Derry boss Damien Cassidy will start none of his three Under 21 stars against Kerry this Sunday at Tralee.

Declan Mullan, James Kielt and Caolan O'Boyle have all been held in reserve for the NFL clash, as Derry's Under 21 footballers prepare for their opening round of the Ulster championship against Tyrone at Omagh next Wednesday night.

While Kielt and O'Boyle, who were both in attendance at yesterday's AFL camp at Gormanston College, have been left off the starting 15, Mullan is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and faces a race against time to be fit for the game at Healy Park.

"We are going to have to hold back those Under 21 players," Cassidy told The Irish News.

"Declan Mullan wouldn't be fit for this weekend. He is very close, but I am confident he will be ready for the game on Wednesday night.

"The other two boys will be involved in the panel. They will go down to the game and they might play a small part. The game will dictate how much they are used." Tweet

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