Derry manager Paddy Tally has confirmed that key defender Gareth McKinless will play no part in the Oak Leafers’ 2025 season.

McKinless suffered a cruciate injury during Ballinderry’s All-Ireland club SFC final run, while his fellow clubman and county teammate Niall O’Donnell has recently undergone surgery for a hamstring injury which is set to keep him out for several months.

Speaking after Derry’s late defeat to Kerry yesterday at Celtic Park, where a flurry of late goals saw the Kingdom snatching a 5-15 to 1-23 victory in the end, Tally provided an update to media regarding the latest injuries to his squad.

“Gareth (McKinless) has a bad injury. Gareth won't be playing this season. He's done his cruciate and so he's out,” he is quoted saying by BelfastLive.co.uk.

“And now (Niall) O'Donnell has gone through a surgery there for a hamstring injury so now he's going to be out for a considerable amount of time as well.

“We need to increase the depth of the squad, there’s still a few players to come back in there, Paudie McGrogan, Conor McCluskey, Niall Loughlin.

“Lachlan Murray only came on the second half with a bit of an injury. Ciaran McFaul didn’t play today. I know Kerry were missing men too, it’s just this time of year where you have to find a few players.”

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