Messages

I agree with Lenny, I saw some positives. A lot of negatives but there were some good things. The bones of an attacking mindset are there albeit the players need to get themselves out of their hardwired defensive rut they have been in for years. But it's slowlygetting better.

Hardwired defence?! Is this the one that has us on -11 and joint second lowest in Division 3? Please elaborate on the good things because it would be useful to know the detail.

Was in Armagh last night. Few points to take away. The Armagh fans are total mouths, they did some yapping at the referee. Derry kick outs are shocking, no one making themselves available, aside from Karl mckaigue making runs in the second half and getting ignored anyway. This resulted in long kick outs being kicked up the field where we weren't winning them most of the time. Surely that's something that could be coached into that team, to run looking the ball? I've seen gradual improvement in the forward play with the ball being played sooner as the league has progressed. Last night was a big improvement on the Longford game for example. Hopefully the slaughtneil lads get settled in for the last couple of games and give us some optimism for what looks like a Donegal game in the championship.  The team has a long way to go, but maybe it's the optimist in me that sees at least some positives.

The long ball did reap some benefits in the first half with wind advantage but Ii think only two forwards scored from play, Lynch and Kielt. With regard to kick outs, you are spot on.

Yes. How many goal chances did you see Armagh miss in 2nd half?  They could have won by 10. Rodgers getting injured will not help much. 

Just in from Armagh and although Derry lost this was a much improved performance against a good Armagh side. Derry led by 2 at the interval and this was with Armagh scoring a fortunate goal after the ball had come off the post. Great to see the  Slaughneil players back.  It would be wrong to attribute the improved performance to their presence as none of them started and none of them were on during Derry's dominant first half period. Anyway predictions of dire outlook for Derry football are a bit premature as there was plenty to be positive about tonight

What game were you at?  Armagh had 3 goal chances in the second half, all missed. Looks like you missed hem as well.

Derry manager Damian McErlain plans to see out the remainder of their Allianz FL Division 3 campaign minus the services of the Slaughtneil contingent.

Nemo Rangers brought the curtain down on Slaughtneil's All-Ireland Club SFC adventure last Saturday but the Oak Leaf boss is prepared to let vice-captain Brendan Rogers and his five club-mates sit out the final three rounds of the league in a bid to have them fresh for the championship.

"We can't rush them back," he told The Belfast Telegraph.

"We want them coming back and being an addition for us. If you are forcing men back who are just after a long season like that - in fact, they are not after one long season, they are after two long seasons - and two years in a row of that, mentally and physically, there is going to be a toll on them.

"They need to normalise their lives a bit, for a few weeks anyway and see where that takes them. For us, it is more about them."

Damien speaks with fork-tongue! And they still lost.  4 introduced, 1 replaced injured. 1 victory in 5 Division 3 games.  Serious stuff.

Did anyone ever hear of anyone getting called upto the squad after Keenan and McFauls exits?

Not a word.

Was one of them not a Bellaghy minor last year?!

Why where they included in the panel if they were not going to be used? Greatly reduced the possible selection of more playerd ( sorry i fix that, more Under 20)  We gave a fairly poor U-20 team if half them are on the senior panel!!

Fair point.

Lavey still had the best club team to come out of Derry, though i admire this Slaughtneil team, with lady luck, a rash decision leading to a sending off, and maybe another scoring forward, things could have been so much different for this Slaughtneil team. they are not done yet but will have to look at extra scoring power for the forthcoming year if they going to give the Derry,Ulster and possible all-ireland serious another run. At the minute they remind me of  a great Clan na gael team from Roscommon with Tony Mcmanus in the late 80`s who were defeated in 4 finals in a row and lost 5 in 8 years.

Not sure about that assessment!  Clann na nGael is the club McManus played for.  3 Derry clubs have won more Ulster football titles than Lavey.  Lavey tried hard to win Ulster hurling title but never succeeded.  You could even argue that the biggest club achievement was Ballerin winning Ulster or the Loup. 

Big boots to fill but by far the best team in the county; a golden goose or a poisoned chalice?

I wouldn't be taking it. If the names rumoured to be considering travelling are true, I'm not sure they'd still be by far the best team, but there'd still be the huge pressure to succeed.

who has been rumoured? In the past they've paid big money for outside managers

It wouldn't be fair on them for an anonymous Internet poster to spread names based on second - hand rumours but I will say I'm not talking about substitutes.

What integrity!  Surprised Moran has gone, if true, with a big chance of 5 in a row.  Not even the great Bellaghy team achieved that.

Whenever the great Bellaghy team was about there was other good teams in Derry and Ulster.
Let's be honest and call it for what it is. Slaughtneil came at a time when Derry and Ulster club football was at its weakest ever.

A bit unbalanced, we were going for 4 in a row, prior to Slaughtneil's dominance.  But I agree that there are few to challenge Slaughtneil in the county at present.

Big boots to fill but by far the best team in the county; a golden goose or a poisoned chalice?

I wouldn't be taking it. If the names rumoured to be considering travelling are true, I'm not sure they'd still be by far the best team, but there'd still be the huge pressure to succeed.

who has been rumoured? In the past they've paid big money for outside managers

It wouldn't be fair on them for an anonymous Internet poster to spread names based on second - hand rumours but I will say I'm not talking about substitutes.

What integrity!  Surprised Moran has gone, if true, with a big chance of 5 in a row.  Not even the great Bellaghy team achieved that.

Hearing Mickey Moran took some serious verbal abuse from  Slaughneil supporter(s) after the game. Incredible if true, after what he has done for that club?

Will he stay for another year?  Their management team must have an average age of 70

not wishing to take anything away from an impressive slaughtneil victory but that's twice I've met their supporters. we have lots of crazies in tyrone but nothing to compare to the slaughtneil loonies. is this normal In derry

Not surprising !

Looks like you have sleep problems. Any black pots or kettles left around Tyrone?  Or are they still on the train from the Armagh match?

3271 hungry,deprived Gaa Football supporters in the south derry club of Bellaghy today for a school Game. 570 in Celtic park last week for a county double header.

Yip. Youse south Derry wans need to have a look st yourself

570 at a double header.  30 per panel including management team * 2.   
Given each player would probably have 6-7 family/friends there to watch them.
60 * 7 = 420

So 150 non related spectators to either of the teams.  Looks to me like Derry City ones wont even go out the front door to support a team.

Its time to stop this 30 year experiment and pull down the white elephant that is Celtic Park.  Its just unfortunate that the County board did not have the foresight to sell Celtic Park to the Derry City Council.  The council could have used it as the new Brandywell and saved them redeveloping the old one.  It would then have had a few thousand of a crowd in it every week.

What a load of crap. Wise up.

Youse don't travel up the road for a fecking game. Simple as.

Point made but still time to grow up.

3271 hungry,deprived Gaa Football supporters in the south derry club of Bellaghy today for a school Game. 570 in Celtic park last week for a county double header.

Yip. Youse south Derry wans need to have a look st yourself

Time to grow up.

3271 hungry,deprived Gaa Football supporters in the south derry club of Bellaghy today for a school Game. 570 in Celtic park last week for a county double header.

Who won?