DERMOT HEANEY has been withdrawn from the Derry team to play Mayo in the semi finals of the National Football League at Croke Park on Sunday less than 24 hours after the selectors had named him on the side.

Shortly after the team had been released for publication on Tuesday evening Heaney's inclusion came to the notice of Derry's medical team. They instantly advised the selectors to omit the player on the grounds that his hamstring injury would be likely to "give". Blushes all round.

Brian Mullins and his selectors have recalled Gary McGill to fill the vacancy.

The Derry management had been particularly happy to give Heaney the number 11 jersey. For one thing, they were pleased to move him closer to the scoring action from midfield, where he played at the last moment against Cavan. The move also allowed Enda Gormley, a late call up for the pivotal position in the quarter final, to revert to his favourite left corner forward spot.

Utility player McGill scored the opening point in Clones, but had lost his place on the half forward line for Sunday to Damien Cassidy.

Derry, the National League title holders, have an unbeaten record in Croke Park this decade. They have so far played eight times at headquarters in League and championship matches, winning seven and drawing one.

Anthony Tohill figured in all of those games besides lining out with the successful Derry minor team of 1989 in the semi final against Roscommon and the final against Offaly. Derry's last competitive meeting against Mayo was in their first match after win fling the All Ireland title in 1993, a League game which they won.

Derry's priority on Sunday will be to stay in a winning groove in the run up to the first round Ulster championship clash with Armagh at Celtic Park on June 2nd.

Corner forward Joe Brolly said he does not follow that a team which does well in the league will win championships, but it's a meaningful competition that matters at this stage of the season. We get far too few games. it's far better preparation for the championship to be playing before a crowd of 15,000 in Croke Park on Sunday than playing in a challenge match somewhere else.

"A county team probably trains, on average, 100 times per season and is guaranteed only seven matches, in the League, and a championship match. A county team should have between 18 and 20 competitive matches per season.

"The League is badly structured. A double round is one answer, another would be to have only three divisions. There are teams playing in Division Two who are really Division One material."

Brolly admits knowing little about Mayo, Meath in the quarter finals, he feels that Derry's modesty ability to have a healthy for all opposition will it in good stead in Sunday's game.

"We know we can be beaten by any team and that includes Mayo. We finished badly against Cavan. We were unable to kill them off. Training since has been good, however. In this area we are coming to the end of our business year and that means more football.

"Brian Mullins is a players' man, an interesting addition to the camp, who has seen it all at first band at the highest level as a player.

The two teams in our semifinal on Sunday are at different stages of development. Mayo, well prepared by John Maughan, will be ambitious and hungry. We have won two Leagues and an All Ireland but still don't want to lose said Brolly.

He expects Anthony Tohill to be seen to better effect than he was against Cavan when he came on as a substitute. "It was difficult for Anthony in Clones, his first match after that long lay off and operation. The fella is as happy as a baby on Christmas morning when he puts on the Derry jersey."