Paddy Tally expects Derry to be in a much better place when the All-Ireland SFC series gets underway at the end of May.

The absence of injured stars Odhran Lynch, Gareth McKinless, Conor McCluskey, Anton Tohill and Cormac Murphy was sorely felt as the Oak Leafers bowed out of the Ulster SFC with a whimper against Donegal in Ballybofey.

“We really only had this last two weeks, even a week-and-a-half there with having Brendan Rogers back in, Ciaran McFaul back and Lachlan Murray back,” the Derry manager explained to reporters.

“We still have a few wee injuries - Anton Tohill, Cormac Murphy is on his way back, Conor McCluskey is on his way back.

“Odhran Lynch is on his way back so, by the time we come down to the group stages, hopefully, we'll be that stronger. And you do need that depth.

“Donegal will be able to bring on four or five players today with a lot of quality, a lot of experience and we don't have that at the moment. But it's a work in progress.

“But I'd like to think by the time the group stages come back, we'll be in better shape.”

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