Messages

To answer "The Impact Code's " query as to which club Derry Minor champions Ballinascreen are drawn against in the Ulster Minor club championship (officially known as St Paul's Belfast Tournament!!) to the best of my knowledge the draw has not been made yet.However I am open to correction on this.

More importantly I hope Ballinascreen keep up a proud Derry winning tradition in this tournament.They have many very good footballers and it would be nice to see them gain some provincial silverware.

In the past outstanding individuals like Tony Scullion,Matt Trolan and Brendan Kelly starred for the Derry Senior team on numerous occasions, a  mantle now carried on by Dermot McBride,Benny Heron and Carlus McWilliams.Every club needs an occasional extra boost and this competition can be an incentive for Ballinascreen to make the most of their opportunity.

This years star  minors like John Paul Devlin and Martin Bradley can do likewise.

Cheers DO but unfortunately JP done his cruciate against Swatragh in the Semi Final which just shows how much the lads stepped up in the Final with such an influential player missing!

Really looking forward to the Minor Tournament fingers crossed we can give it a good go.

Yes, wishing JP a very speedy recovery!

A skilful, jinky, wee player; and as I overheard at a Minor game this year, "He's like a buckled wheel coming at ye!"

Best wishes to the lads in Ulster.

I still remember when CJ McGourty broke Screen hearts in 2005 with a clinker of a score in the dying minutes.

[Postie]

You can add Emmett McGuckin on to the list of absentees - also not called up

So far Lynch, Kielt, Heavron, McGuckin.

Wonder what goalkeepers are on panel, was Postie asked back?

Don't know how a starting player can go from main player to not needed within 2/3 months. I know all managers will have difference in opinion on certain players but to not make a 30-40 man panel is some drop.

The only way that lad should be let through the gates of Owenbeg again is if he's rebuilding them. That's if his ego can fit through them.

What's wrong with giving the Slaughtneil keeper a shot?

Bit harsh on Postie. Think over the last 3-4 years, he's been one of the top keepers in the County.

McMullan definitely worthy of a call up. I was very impressed with him in the County Final.

Awaiting the result from the minor championship final to see if the revolution in Bellaghy has started. Draperstown could never beat the Tones-could they TFAL? That would be embarrassing. That would take years to recover from

Well done to our lads today! Well worth their victory.

Bellaghy fall at the last hurdle, a repeat of 2005.

Best of luck to Screen in Ulster!

Nothing beats winning with your friends.

[Just a case of Draperstown shiting in the nest again]

Just a case of Draperstown shiting in the nest again. In their favour you have to give them credit for getting to a county final with the players they have. The referee in the semi final against Glen and yesterday was very biased towards Slaughtneil. Over and out

Glistening summary from an informed and clearly well educated, football man.

An alternative view - maybe it was a case of being outclassed and well beaten by one of the best club sides of our generation?

I don't know if you were at the game, but it clearly wasn't a contest. Slaughtneil were magnificent.

Maybe Bellaghy could have made a game of it.

That's right, we hammered them in the first round - the absolute shitbags.

I actually feel sorry for you. Every time you're on here, you're having a go at Screen.

Just imagine how nice a life you would have if you let go of all the bitterness.

Well summed up Link.

Really feel for our lads because they could never get into the game and show what they could do.

Thought our tactics were lacking, and the sweeper system didn't work effectively.

However, there's no doubt that the better team won. Slaughtneil were seriously good from start to finish. A level above Screen and anyone else I've seen this year. I was so impressed with them.

Clinical, disciplined, focused, well conditioned. Hard to see anyone beating them any time soon.

Sammy, the McKaigue's, Rodgers et al were fantastic, and played their roles perfectly.

Twin, Patsy and Round Head were steadying the ship all game too with some really smart play.

Not to mention the talent coming off the Slaughtneil bench, most of whom would start on any club team in Ulster imo.

Then you have Moran overseeing proceedings, and it completes the perfect jigsaw.

Thought the referee was a joke with some of his decisions against Screen. But this didn't contribute to the result.

Best of luck to Slaughtneil in Ulster, they look even better than last year and will take some stopping.

[By the way does anyone know when the County Board will announce the management teams for Derry's U17 and U20 teams for next year?]

After the steep learning curve of the disappointment of Derry's comprehensive   All Ireland Minor defeat, no doubt Damian McErlain and his management team will have realised the futility of persisting with a game plan which does not include the presence of a sweeper or the concept of a top player(albeit a phenomenally physically developed and extraordinarily talented individual in the case of David Clifford) being double - marked in the modern game.

That said and that harsh lesson undoubtedly learned I have no doubt that both Damian and his Minor players will bounce back  to replicate the magnificent individual and team performances that they have cumulatively given over the course of the last three years.The talent both on and off the field is definitely there.Their biggest tactical challenge is to learn from the mistakes of the past and to adapt accordingly.

Players like Conor McCluskey,Oisin and Lorcan McWilliams,Callum Brown,Declan Cassidy( surprisingly not given much game time during the minor campaign),Paddy Quigg and Padraig McGrogan are only some of the players from this year's minor squad who have the ability to develop into top class Senior inter county players.Others when they develop physically have the skill sets to join them.

So despite the mistakes of last Sunday Damian McErlain has  restored pride and confidence in Derry football again.Everyone will wish him well as he attempts  to ensure that all the best players will be available for inter county Senior duty when he announces his new panel in the coming weeks.

By the way  does anyone know when  the County Board will announce the management teams for Derry's U17 and U20 teams for next year?

Any idea who could get these jobs?

Seamus Downey has done great work with Lavey underage and should surely be considered.

would a Magherafelt player go near it if that was the case, and I am not trying to be smart either.

It would be bad form for Magherafelt player to turn down the chance to represent their county because the manager of a rival is taking the team. That sort of bickering should be left at club level.

On a side note - Enda Quinn (Magherafelt's main underage manager the past 4/5 years) has won twice what Seamus Downey has won at underage level the past few years. Saying that he seems to stick to the u12-16 age groups as I don't recall him taking a minor team? Open to correction though

Would you describe it as bickering, has it not moved beyond that? Total disrespect is a more accurate description?

Magherafelt and Lavey seem to be forming a rivalry from underage up, however if it would be the wrong stance to take to not play for your county because Seamus Downey is in charge. Whether it be bickering, fighting, disrespect or whatever you want to call it

What's the beef between Lavey and Magherafelt about?