Messages

Great win for the U 20s on Sunday. Serious questions though around the work of the disciplinary committees as to how players who were clearly guilty of the charge for which they were being considered ended up walking off free men - how did this happen?

Lets get down to Clones on Sunday and let the rest of Ulster know we're still around and we're on our way back. Once these young lads start to filter through to the senior team we'll make our way up through the Divisions. Theres a sense in which we're moving into a new era - lets leave the negativity behind, we've been in the shadow for too long, time to bring the swagger back!

Fully agree with South Derry fan. Lets get our best players out on the field for now, even if they're not part of any long term plan, get a bit of momentum going and then introduce the younger lads to keep that going into Division 3 and then Division 2 as soon as possible thereafter. Look at Laois who were in Div 4 last year and will be in this year's Leinster final, Fermanagh, last year's Division 3, who will be in this year's Ulster final - it is possible to make fairly quick progress in a short time but to get back to the top 8 or 10 will take 4 to 5 years, lets be realistic. Off the field there's also a need to find a way to get good people involved with team management, the County Board, the coaching and games development end of things etc - fair play to those who have been involved for the last 10 years and more but lets get some fresh thinking in place and get Derry football back to where it should be.

Ok, Derry were outclassed at times yesterday but Damien is looking to build a team that is going to be competitive for 5 to 7 years and to do so that is going to take 3 years or so. The only really sustained period when we were competitive at the top end, year in and year out, was between 1991 and 1998, otherwise we've blown hot and cold every year and no one could predict how we might do. What we need is patience, get behind the team, encourage people to play for the county and others to support it and lets build a bit of momentum. It doesn't mean we can't cut lumps out of each other when the club championship comes around but lets bring an end to all the doom and gloom there has been around Derry and look forward to a brighter future. If we can beat Kildare and have another game to look forward to that would be brilliant.

Whatever team lines out on Sunday lets get along to Celtic Park and give them our support. No one is expecting anything so we have nothing to lose! Doire Abu