Few thoughts on the game on Sunday. Great to see a substantial Derry following in the crowd. Thought there was more than the 9000 odd that was announced at half time, but I suppose that may have just included the tickets sold and not all the U16s as well.
The set up at Castlebar was superb as well, the facilities at McHale Park just emphasises the how poor they are in Celtic Park. The god-awful toilets, narrow gangways, congestion (people and traffic) of Celtic Park were non-existent Castlebar. We got parked on McHale Rd, and it was handy to get out and away especially with the guards controlling the traffic.
As for the game thought Derry played in fits and starts, some excellent football, was followed up by a litany of school boy errors. At times we were in complete control and others we looked like one more Mayo score away from total collapse. McFaul, McGuigan, Glass all hit excellent points, McCluskey took his goal very well. I wouldn't be too concerned with the support we have for McGuigan. And ultimately finished out the game brilliantly despite being under pressure for 15mins of the second half.
Lynch continues to mix the sublime with the ridiculous. Super save in the second half, but some of the kick out selection was baffling. Just like towards the end of the Kerry game last year, he seems to have a blind spot on his kickouts to his right hand side. I know its easy to point this out sitting high up in the stand, but it occurred 2 or 3 times in the second half while we were already under pressure, he'd a free option to his right, but either kicked long or looked for someone to his left.
The Ref was fairly poor as well, Rodgers was getting pulled and dragged then shrugged the player off with his strength and a free given against him. McEvoy was jumping for a kick out, Mayo lad with his back to the play just jumped straight into McEvoy, with no attempt to contest the kickout and play allowed to continue. At the time I thought that Loughlin played for the penalty, but a couple of comments appear that this might not be the case. Would need to see it again. Mayo keeper was taking at least the same amount of time as Lynch, yet Lynch was blown twice for it. Even with all that the Mayo crowd were still getting on top of him.
Derry will probably be able to give another couple of players a break next week again, and give the bench another run out. I think it would take a serious set of scores to knock us out of the league final.
The set up at Castlebar was superb as well, the facilities at McHale Park just emphasises the how poor they are in Celtic Park. The god-awful toilets, narrow gangways, congestion (people and traffic) of Celtic Park were non-existent Castlebar. We got parked on McHale Rd, and it was handy to get out and away especially with the guards controlling the traffic.
As for the game thought Derry played in fits and starts, some excellent football, was followed up by a litany of school boy errors. At times we were in complete control and others we looked like one more Mayo score away from total collapse. McFaul, McGuigan, Glass all hit excellent points, McCluskey took his goal very well. I wouldn't be too concerned with the support we have for McGuigan. And ultimately finished out the game brilliantly despite being under pressure for 15mins of the second half.
Lynch continues to mix the sublime with the ridiculous. Super save in the second half, but some of the kick out selection was baffling. Just like towards the end of the Kerry game last year, he seems to have a blind spot on his kickouts to his right hand side. I know its easy to point this out sitting high up in the stand, but it occurred 2 or 3 times in the second half while we were already under pressure, he'd a free option to his right, but either kicked long or looked for someone to his left.
The Ref was fairly poor as well, Rodgers was getting pulled and dragged then shrugged the player off with his strength and a free given against him. McEvoy was jumping for a kick out, Mayo lad with his back to the play just jumped straight into McEvoy, with no attempt to contest the kickout and play allowed to continue. At the time I thought that Loughlin played for the penalty, but a couple of comments appear that this might not be the case. Would need to see it again. Mayo keeper was taking at least the same amount of time as Lynch, yet Lynch was blown twice for it. Even with all that the Mayo crowd were still getting on top of him.
Derry will probably be able to give another couple of players a break next week again, and give the bench another run out. I think it would take a serious set of scores to knock us out of the league final.