Messages

Cassidy stands down in Derry
Damien Cassidy during his spell as Derry senior football manager
30 July 2010

Derry have been informed by Damian Cassidy that he will not be seeking a third year as the county's senior football manager.

The former All-Ireland winner took over from Paddy Crozier and had served two years of hie three year term with the county.

The Oakleafers lost out to Kildare by 11-points in Celtic Park in a round 3 qualfier this month having also relinquished their NFL Division 1 status and lost to Armagh in the Ulster SFC preliminary round.

Derry county board issued a statement on Friday afternoon breaking the news and they thanked Cassidy for his efforts over the last 24-months.

"Damian and his management team have served this county with pride over the past two years, highlighted by leading our County to a National final in Croke Park in 2009," said the Derry county board.

"Derry County Board would like to commend Damian and his management team for the new initiatives they have introduced to the county set up and credit them for the new players they have introduced to the panel.

"Whilst we regret to be in this situation, we accept the decision of Damian and his management team, and wish them well in their future endeavours, and have no doubt they will go on to enjoy continued success in their future managerial careers."

With the current teams left - I expect Down to reach the quarter finals and if they draw Rosscommon - maybe the semi finals - but thats with the luck of the draw!

they dont want him back

Actually hoped Derry would get drawn against you lot again - but Donegal should turn Armagh over.

Great for Carlow to have a team like Derry visit Dr Cullen Park.

Ha! Who could be excited by the visit of Derry, a team that are distinctly mid-tier. At least if they drew Wicklow, Laois or Kildare you'd get a bit of banter and a bumper gate but Derry!!!!

You are right Derry have not been setting the world alight at the moment - but we fecking ahead of Kildare when it comes to football.

Whats the story on James Kielt?

I am sure he will make some appearance on sunday.

Derry team to play Armagh

1. Gillis
2. McAlarey
3. McGuckian
4. McBride
5. O'Kane
6. McGuigan
7. Bateson
8. Dohery
9. Patsy Bradley
10. Mullan
11. Mickey Lynch's wee lad
12. SL McGoldrick
13. E. Bradley
14. Paddy Bradley
15. Wilkinson

No place for either Barry McGoldrick or James Kielt

Looks good - plenty of options on the bench - believe Mullan is going to cause havoc in the Armagh defence - more convinced now - Derry by 3

Donaghy will take one of the two Bradley's.  He proved just how good he is a full back and man marker in the Div II final.

Clarke won't play - I have it from a good source that he's not sure himself whether or not he'll even make the bench.  That being the case, I'd rather not see him until later in the summer, we should not be risking him when there are either quarters or knockouts ahead of us.

I've no idea how good or bad Derry really are, but read an interesting view yesterday from Peter Canavan which could mean that it doesn't matter, he reckons that no matter who comes out of Celtic Park that they will have had to peak too early and show their hand, with Monaghan ready and waiting to pick them off.  Sadly, he may be right!

Taking a positive view on it - I see our defence keeping the Derry scores down with the Bradley's getting more and more frustrated as the day goes on with the lack of time and space.  If Toner turns up, we'll win midfield and with Stevie back to his best, I see our forwards enjoy a quick running game and leading Armagh to a 1 point win. (There won't be a run away win on either side)

I think thats a load of balls from Peter Canavan - in the case of Derry we have not even got started this year - so we will not be hitting peak form for this game. I can see Gerald O kane or Kevin McGuckian man marking McDonnell. Doherty will produce the goods on sunday at midfield. I think it will be a hard and physical game. But Derry should get the result-  by at least 3 points.

Armagh the county of saints and fuel smugglers ..... Mullan never actually put the knee in that players balls - he actually got off the more senior charge after video evidence was presented at his appeal. Roll on sunday week.

Cassidy: critics of Ulster football don't understand the intensity
By Fintan O'Toole

Friday, May 07, 2010

DERRY boss Damien Cassidy claims that people in the south do not understand the intensity of Ulster championship football.

Derry's quarter-final win over Monaghan last season drew fierce criticism over the cynical fouling on both sides, but Cassidy refused to condemn the actions afterwards and 12 months on, he believes the critics of that match after incapable of understanding the 'essence' of Ulster football as they only watch it on television.

"I have yet to talk to anyone that was at that game in Celtic Park, whether they were a Monaghan supporter or Derry supporter or neutral who did not enjoy that day,'' Cassidy said.

"A few Monaghan people I have talked to hated the result but they enjoyed the day. Whenever you are sitting back and watching on your television screen, you don't capture the essence of what the whole day is about and the spirit of what is going on. So you should never do that.

"If you are a critic and you have never been to an Ulster championship match, I would advise you to get into your car and drive to Celtic Park on Sunday week and experience what Ulster football championship is about."

Cassidy revealed that Armagh are in for a hot reception in Celtic Park in Sunday week's Ulster SFC quarter-final, insisting that the pressure is on Paddy O'Rourke's men to perform after the optimism generated by their recent NFL Division 2 title.

"Armagh are not going to get an easy ride in Celtic Park. They are not going to come to Celtic Park and walk out with a handy game. But the bottom line is still that it is theirs to lose. They had a good league. The pressure is clearly on Armagh and is clearly on their players to come up to Celtic Park and back-up those performances.

"To show their own supporters the league football that they played can be continued on into the championship."

In contrast to their opponents, Derry will be hoping to reverse their own league form as they plummeted to Division 2. Yet their manager is not perturbed by that poor run and stresses it will have no impact on their championship performance.

"Everyone has their own views on the league. I come from a culture that does not give a lot of credence to league football. What I do know is that the championship is really what it is all about.

"Derry have not performed in it for quite a number of years now. So are we going to produce fantastic football in the National League and deceive in the championship or are we going to get one where we understand that the championship is where we have to get consistency?

"I would like to see this as the start of our season. I am not going to say that this year is going to be any different. I am not going to do a Mourihino. But at the same time I have confidence in the players that I have."

Cassidy was also once more scathing in his criticism of the decision to bring in experimental rules during the league.

"I have to say the whole messing around with the league and the rules that were applied in my opinion undermines the league competition.

"It is still the second premier competition in inter-county football and whenever you are introducing different rules in different years concurrently, there is only one way that you can take it and that is that the people who are involved in bring in those rules don't value the league either.

"When you have people at the head of the organisation not paying respect to the competition that they should be paying to it, why should they be surprised that a lot of people follow the lead that they set?"

Meanwhile, Charlie Kielt is Derry's only injury casualty for that game, out for six weeks with a medial ligament injury.


This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, May 07, 2010

capacity of 14.000 confirmed for the game. at last nights co. board meeting is was stated that the armagh allocation is 6750 with only 1450 seats available. i was told that after season tickets players tickets etc 800 seated tickets will be available to clubs etc. the only thing is that derry supporters probually wont take their full allocation for various reasons, dont like celtic park and small base of support.

alot of what you say is correct - however its first game of the championship and I expect Derry supporters to be out in their numbers. Tomorrow at 12.30  is the deadline for tickets - being allocated on monday night.

Have Armagh ever beaten Derry in celtic Park?

Maddog thats what I mean - why would Derry turn over home advantage?

Has this been confirmed as being in Celtic Park ? Whats the chances of it being moved to Clones ?

get a grip!

Derry must win. Cassidy's hand will be strengthed after Wed night when he gets his u21 contingent back.(all being well )