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Greenlough sacking their managers after winning 3 out of 4 games??!!!

What's the story there?

Enda Lynn has informed his Greenlough teammates that he won't be playing this season, due to the committee's decision to sack the manager.

Muldoon gone from Banagher, what a tube of a club. Heard the reason from a well placed source. I won't post it until its confirmed by other sources. This the third manager in the past 6 years they have forced into resigning mid season as far as I can gather. There are a very grateful community🤮

If the source was well placed then tell us man! The board has been poor on the gossip front of late.

From time to time the reality of how quickly the county footballers have dropped seems hard to believe. People have plenty of opinions but we need to learn from past mistakes if we're not to repeat them in the future. How did this happen - games against Waterford, London and Wicklow? Its not one single thing, obviously, but even with promotion each year it will be 2022 before our footballers are back in Div 1 and, lets be honest, it might take a couple of goes to get out of Div 2 and possibly Div 3, maybe even Division 4! If Limerick beat Leitrim they're back in it and we still have to play them both. So it could be 2025 before we see Derry playing against the top teams again on a regular basis - 25 years into the new millennium! Its hard not to despair sometimes!

In the last decade Derry have received more money from Croke Park than 29 counties in Ireland. Only Dublin and Cork have received more. Where has all of this money went? Idiots at the healm spending money needlessly. The County Board giving salaries to people for organising a few underage blitzes here and there? You don't need an office at Owenbeg for that. The problem with Derry football goes right to the heart of the County Board. It's easy to be critical, I realise that. But it's hard to believe how much investment has been squandered, when counties receiving less have made more progress.

Off work for a few days over the Christmas Hols. I've followed Bellaghy's journey and success through twitter and videos from Jerome Quinn.  I've also been reading a few articles recently about Gweedore and their underage success which has fed into the senior side.  As well as that Mal McMullan tweeted about Derry's success in the Ulster Minor Club Comp. 

I decided to look further into the correlation between minor success and senior success. If we look at some of the Derry clubs that have also won the Ulster Minor Tournament, there is a clear correlation to triumph for the Senior teams.

Dungiven
Ulster Minor Champs: 1990 ; Ulster Senior Champs: 1997
County Champions: 1991 & 1997

Bellaghy
Ulster Minor Champs: 1991 & 1994 ; Ulster Senior Champs: 1994 (Finalists '96, 98, 05)
County Champions: 1994, '96, '98, '99, 00, '05 (Finalists: '95, '01, '03)

An Lub
Ulster Minor Champs: 1993 & 1995 ; Ulster Senior Champs: 2003 (Finalists '09)
County Champions: 2003 & 2009 (Finalists: 2002, '05, '06)

Ballinderry
Ulster Minor Champ: '96, '97, '01 & 08 ; Ulster Senior Champs: '01 & '13 (Finalists '06, '08)
County Champions: 1995, '01, '06, '08, 2011-13 (Finalists: '99,'00, '03, '10, '14)

Slaughtneil
Ulster Minor Champ: '98 ; Ulster Senior Champs: '14, '16, '17
County Champions: 2004, '14, '15, '16, '17 (Finalists: '08, '12)

Kilrea
Ulster Minor Champs: 2007
County Finalists: 2011

Of the Derry winners in the St Paul's tournament only Kilrea have yet to make the breakthrough at senior level.

Even looking at sides that have won the county minor title, an appearance in the Senior County final normally follows as well. Since the year 2000 the following teams have played in the county final:
Bellaghy (W2 L3), Ballinderry (W7 L4), An Lub (W2 L4), Slaughtneil (W5 L2), Glenullin (W1), Dungiven (L1), Coleraine (W2 L1), Kilrea (L1), Ballinascreen (L2), Lavey (L1)

Most of those teams have had victories in minor and u21 competitions prior to their appearance in the senior final. I believe only Glenullin and Coleraine didn't win county titles at either those two age groups.

The sides that have won minor or u21 (recently) and haven't made an appearance (yet) in a senior county final are Magherafelt and Glen.

Which takes me on to another comparison. Between the two most recent winners of the Ulster U21 tournament. Gweedore and Glen.  Glen won the competition three consecutive years prior to Gweedore's win.

There was a lot of emphasis on the age profile of the Gweedore side that won the senior championship and how that was the impetus for their senior side. Looking at Gweedore's victory in the Ulster Club C'ship, would those in Glen not wonder why they haven't reached a County Final (Yet) never mind a winning the Senior Ulster Club.

The Gweedore side that won the U21 title in Feb:

Gaoth Dobhair: Charles Doherty; Ciaran McHugh; Gary McFadden; Ryan Kelly; Conor McCafferty; Niall Friel; Neasán Mac Gíolla Bhride; Michael Carroll; Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Naoise Ó Baoill; Cian Mulligan; Daire Ó Baoill ; Seaghan Ferry; Gavin McBride; Eamonn Collum
Subs:
Conor Boyle

The Gweedore side that won the Seamus McFerran:
GAOTH DOBHAIR: Christopher Sweeney; Gary McFadden, Neil McGee, Christopher McFadden; Niall Friel, Eamonn McGee, Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Daire O Baoill, Odhran MacNiallais; Cian Mulligan, Naoise O Baoill, Daniel McBride; Eamonn Collum, Kevin Cassidy, Micheal Carroll
Subs: J Carroll, S Ferry, P McGee, J Boyle

I'm open to correction, but that's 8 players that started both finals. And one that came off the bench in the Senior Final. That is some influx of young players into the senior side in one season. Which is some achievement for the club.  I'd say if you compared the U-21 winning sides from Glen with the team that played against Lavey in the senior semi-final this year, you'd find a similar scenario.

Glen's underage trophy cabinet compares favourably with Gweedore's, and those lads would be further down the line in terms of playing senior football.  Is there a reason why their underage success translated into senior success? (yet)

What other factors come into play?

I know that TFAL is all about tradition and history playing a part.  Teams that have a history of winning or have players that know how to win.  McEntee also alludes to that in his Irish News column today.  Its also been referenced on the main Ulster Minor Club thread.

The loss of talent (ie Conor Glass) can play a part too.  Whether that be to University, drinking in Belfast, losing interest, moving away, Job, marriage etc.  Are there other talented players from those successful sides that have been lost to any of the above?

Age profile of the team – "The right mix of players" The youth of the Gweedore team was talked about a lot, though having Cassidy, McGees, McNiallais in the side was more important. Any club in the county would gladly take those players and expect success.

Final thought on this long ramble: How many people on here would back Glen to win the John McLaughlin, before Bellaghy or Lavey?   (Using these two clubs as they've fit the profile of history/tradition, as well as having won underage titles recently)

(*This is not a takedown of Glen, this is just looking at the link between underage and senior success – plus I'm off work for a few days and very bored*)

You mentioned Gweedore having 8 starters who tasted U21 success - from the team which was beaten in the Derry semi-final, Glen had 14 starters who had recent Under 21 success. Philip O'Connell is around 32, the next oldest 24 then right down to 18. Compare that with the 3 McGee's, Kevin Cassidy, their keeper, McNiallais, McFadden and 1 or 2 others, all who provide a very experienced spine. A vastly different age & experience profile to Glen.
The defeat to Lavey was disappointing but Glen will learn from it and move forward.

Concentrate your energies on your own club. Screen have also won recent minor titles with no senior success to show. The biggest parish in Derry if not Ulster, 20+ miles square, 99.9% nationalist, no bordering clubs fighting for players - if you're that bored over the holidays, take a long look at your own club ...

Dodger, you sound like a jaded Glen man. And who could blame you? But seriously, you should channel your efforts towards something more fruitful. The Ballinascreen Historical Society are looking contributors. You would fit right in, given your intricate knowledge of the parish. Estimator - good, informative post.

Regarding the correct identity of the Paul Devlin who is part of Kilcoo's new management team along with Mickey Moran and Conleith Gilligan I presume it is their former star player and consummate freetaker, Paul Devlin, who is the man in question!!

A much more likely scenario!

Kilcoo's Paul Devlin would still be young enough, around 27 id imagine. Would he not still be playing?

Maybe this is a conversation for the Down GAA forum lol

Definitely 100% the Paul Devlin in question is a Screen man. The player Paul Devlin from Kilcoo is still a key player and only in his mid 20's.....

Indeed, the reports in several media outlets state Paul Devlin is a Derry Native. So it's not the Kilcoo version.

Haha, well whichever Paul it is, I have boosted his profile something shocking! Paul, if you're reading this, I'll accept 20% commission from whatever mileage you're getting (hopefully it's the Screen one).

Regarding the correct identity of the Paul Devlin who is part of Kilcoo's new management team along with Mickey Moran and Conleith Gilligan I presume it is their former star player and consummate freetaker, Paul Devlin, who is the man in question!!

A much more likely scenario!

Mickey Moran appointed Kilcoo manager with Conlieth Gilligan as trainer. Is there a Paul Devlin involved too? Where's he from?

😳 uncle Phil - is Devlin not from Screen?

Yes there is a Paul Devlin from Screen, but didn't think it was him! He's a good lad, but didn't know he coached/was involved with teams. I wish him all the best. Slaughtneil ones won't be impressed with Moran's move! Kilcoo apparently gave the players awful personal abuse on the field.... A friend from Down spoke of Kilcoo, "They'd eat their young"

Mickey Moran appointed Kilcoo manager with Conlieth Gilligan as trainer. Is there a Paul Devlin involved too? Where's he from?

a gentleman maybe but meenagh had dromore playing 14 in own 45 and one of best forwards in ireland this year playing sweeper. Think won 2 championship games in 3 years with one of most talented teams in tyrone.

I was talking to a Screen player a year or so ago and he said if Meenagh had of stayed about, he would be confident they would have won a championship. He also said he was the best man he's ever played under.

His record with a very good Dromore side is grim, however this year they were beat by a point vs Coalisland who went on to win the championship. Regarding the Defensive football, I'd say that's exactly the way Derry will prepare to play Tyrone this year in the Ulster championship.

To be honest I don't know enough about his time at Dromore to comment, but having followed his time at Sceeen closely, he really impressed me. I know the players really enjoyed playing under him and were gutted when he moved on.

[Ryan Bell]

An Oak Leaf panel that will have a very fresh look about it again in 2019.

Ballinderry forward Ryan Bell is back in harness, while goalkeeper Thomas Mallon will return after a year out of the setup to bring the number of goalkeepers up to three, with Ben McKinless and U20 stopper Oran Hartin still there.

Impressive young Lavey quartet of Shea Downey (who missed their championship run through illness), Conor Mulholland, Eamon McGill and Declan Hughes are all set for a look, while Ryan Dougan (Glen) is a versatile option for either full-back or around the middle.

Jason Rocks (Loup), Meehaul McGrath (Slaughtneil) and Sean Francis Quinn (Swatragh) join Eoghan Concannon (Steelstown) and Conor Doherty (Newbridge) in receiving call-ups, with the latter pair having played minor football under McErlain.

Derry have also added to their backroom team, with former Tyrone defender Ciaran Meenagh, who parted company with Dromore and has previously managed Ballinascreen, joining the ranks

Derry are lucky to have Ciaran Meenagh - an absolutely superb coach, and a true gentlemen.

[What would possess any footballer to play for Derry currently? Busting your balls for ten months, not training with your club, missing social events, to get knocked out in the Qualifiers by Louth or somebody. Bloody depressing]

The biggest problem with drawing Tyrone again is trying to get players to commit this year.

I saw the GPA ran a report recently that showed inter-county players devoted on average 31 hours a week to football. Players may feel this commitment/sacrifice  is not worth division 4 football and a thumping from Tyrone come May.

Damien must have some sort of panel together at the minute as I am aware they have met a few times. I'm not sure in what context they have met but hopefully he can somehow get a decent panel of men together that are willing to commit. I am also aware there have been players that have already turned down an invite to the county panel already.

What would possess any footballer to play for Derry currently? Busting your balls for ten months, not training with your club, missing social events, to get knocked out in the Qualifiers by Louth or somebody. Bloody depressing.

not as bloody depressing as you Phil

Lol sorry to kill your Friday buzz Joe. I despair at the current state of Derry football, and I hope it improves as much as anyone else.  But am I far off the mark? The gap between effort and rewards for county footballers (unless you play for Dublin, Kerry, or Galway) is at an all time high. I commend the players who sacrafice it all for County Football, it's admirable. But I also empathise with players who opt out. Maybe I need to lighten up and have a beer. Damn, I can't, I have a challenge game against UUJ in a month.....

The biggest problem with drawing Tyrone again is trying to get players to commit this year.

I saw the GPA ran a report recently that showed inter-county players devoted on average 31 hours a week to football. Players may feel this commitment/sacrifice  is not worth division 4 football and a thumping from Tyrone come May.

Damien must have some sort of panel together at the minute as I am aware they have met a few times. I'm not sure in what context they have met but hopefully he can somehow get a decent panel of men together that are willing to commit. I am also aware there have been players that have already turned down an invite to the county panel already.

What would possess any footballer to play for Derry currently? Busting your balls for ten months, not training with your club, missing social events, to get knocked out in the Qualifiers by Louth or somebody. Bloody depressing.

+2 good post

Heard Joe Brolly and Brian McIver had a heated exchange in the stand. Anyone know what this was about?

Only the Ulster Semi-Final and Final being broadcast live this year. What a farce!