Eoin McEvoy expects Derry to persist with a ‘sweeper-keeper’ in the All-Ireland SFC series.

The high-risk tactic was brutally exposed in the Oak Leafers’ recent Ulster SFC quarter-final defeat to Donegal when roaming goalkeeper Odhran Lynch was caught off his line for three goals.

“Nobody was saying much after the league final when Odhran was doing the exact same and had a very good game,” McEvoy pointed out after being named PwC GAA / GPA Player of the Month for March.

“On the kickouts, Odhran still had a good game [against Donegal], it’s probably just the opposition ones, but that’s the beauty of the Ulster championship as well. We have three or four weeks to fix the flaw in the system.

“If Odhran is coming out with the ball, he’s creating a plus one. If someone is coming to Odhran there is always a spare man free. So, in those terms it is beneficial to have him.”

The Magherafelt man added: “Odhran has been playing that role for three or four years now for the county, and he plays it for the club as well. He’s well used to it, and I think he is very good at it. It would be wise probably to stick with it, if he is that good with it, I think.

“Thank God it’s not July, the business end of the season, and you are scratching your head for months to try back on to it – now we have the time and we are going to use it wisely.”

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