Derry are going to find it hard to replace key forward who’s just quit their panel

Trouble in the Oak Leaf

It seems to be a big week for players leaving or being forced off county panels for various reasons, and now we've another to add to the list. Tyrone were leading the way in seeing players depart their inter-county squad with five players now having left in the last few months, and now Derry have a breakaway story of their own. It's being reported tonight that star forward James Kielt has quit the panel just weeks ahead of the Ulster semi final with Donegal. Derry overcame Down earlier this month with the Kilrea man an unused sub in the one point win and he is understood to be unhappy at his lack of game time He has been suffering with injury in recent months but was understood to be fully fit in the last number of weeks but his absence will be a major blow to Brian McIlver whose charges face the Ulster champions later this month. At least they still have Eoghan Bradley. H/T to Derrynow.com