Messages

What are Derry going to do to get the league structures in order? Teams refusing to play the relegation play off this weekend for the 2nd year in a row. Where do they go from here?

Which teams are refusing to play the relegation play off? It did seem this year that the structure of the senior championship was pretty clear with two teams relegated to Intermediate. You would think if a team doesn't turn up they would lose the game and be relegated. Better off playing, maybe winning and if you lose try and find a loophole.
Although the best solution would be the rules are set properly, clearly communicated by the county board and clubs adhere to them.

After last years relegation fallout I was  under the impression that the county board had closed all loopholes etc regarding the relegation process for this year, so that the clubs couldn't decline the process.

Teams will still chance their arm. Infuriating behavior and just sore sore losers. Ive heard lavey are trying to appeal their league relegation too! A bad precedent has been set now and it needs to be squashed asap!

Why opt for it, when you got no remote chance of getting there, foreby winning it.

Completely agree. It seems like a pride thing. eg A team with the legacy of ballinderry wouldnt want to be associated with intermediate and I imagine even if they won the celebrations would be hollow.

The height of arrogance if you ask me. Which ever team ends up relegated is there for a reason.
You think your good enough to be competing in senior? Go prove it in intermediate first and earn it.

All about opinions DK. Ballinderry knew how to get the best out of Gilligan (and Colie Devlin too) in a way Derry didn't. All great players there tbf...

this is the equivalent as saying a great minor player who is struggling at senior level ah jesus the minor managers just knew how to get the best out of him.

Great players in their right but definitely not top county players.

You say they're not top county players because they didnt deliver as much at county. But the quality of footballer was still there.

Imagine you went to a Ballinderry Glenullin game circa 2008. Both Paddy Bradley and Gilligan would stand out as the stars for their teams (while probably being marked by the other team's star/county defender). Because they were both of immense quality.

Now clearly one of them played much better for their county and Im not sure what accounts for that. But we should acknowledge that players like Deets are that kind of TOP quality standard players that Derry never got the best out of.

Got too many bad memories rewatched Derry v Donegal 2006 other nite and Derry v Monaghan 2007, last night. Christ we were poor, the players they had then, probably better than now, and we only got a league title to show for it. Tactics was non-existant, with always 5/6 different players always injured each year. What Mickey Harte had done with that team if he been over it at thd time. !!

These players we had at the time were so good they couldn't put back to two wins together in the ulster championship over how many years.  Yes I agree a highly talented bunch      The kicker line was, and I nearly pissed myself laughing when you when you came with the 'probably better then now'       feck me how daft can you you be. A group of players who couldn't put one 'back to back win' in Ulster verses a team double Ulster winning team who missed qualifying for the All Ireland final this year by hair.      Have you tried stand up comedy yet?

Reign it in. Wildweasel is saying just what youve said. The team were underachievers. Youd be mad to question the talent of the individuals playing then. Those teams of the mid-00s boasted 4 all-star winners Paddy Bradley, SM Lockhart, Kevin McCloy and big Enda Muldoon. Then you still have skinner, Mark Lynch, Deets, Gerard O'kane. I could go on. If they were handled as well as this current squad that team wouldve lifted Sam.

You now have said that a team that couldn't put two games back to back in Ulster from 2003-2011 would have lifted Sam. deluded, and furthermore to add Deets into that group of players you named is dead pan not funny. Top club player yes, county, just a run of the mill decent player at best.

Are you being intentionally dense?

This is very simple. Im saying that the squad of players/individuals back then were just as talented as this current bunch. So why didnt they win? I dont know. Management? Continuity? Culture? Lack of interest/investment from players? Perhaps all 4! But not the quality of the players.

So dont sit there and try tell me that Shane McGuigan is better than Paddy Bradley or that Eoin McEvoy compares to Kevin McCloy. And as for your deets comment you're just making my own point again for me. He was a top quality player and anyone who ever seen him play for Ballinderry knows that.

Wonder did Joe have the same grievances about Brian Mullins when he took the Derry job or is it because he simply doesn't like Mickey Harte?

Of course not. Just like how there was never a murmur when Gallagher was brought in.

Also never heard Joe complaining when 'Derry legend' Stephen O'Neill (from the West-West-Derry club of Clann na nGael) took over his beloved Dungiven which Brolly is forever loyal to.

Got too many bad memories rewatched Derry v Donegal 2006 other nite and Derry v Monaghan 2007, last night. Christ we were poor, the players they had then, probably better than now, and we only got a league title to show for it. Tactics was non-existant, with always 5/6 different players always injured each year. What Mickey Harte had done with that team if he been over it at thd time. !!

These players we had at the time were so good they couldn't put back to two wins together in the ulster championship over how many years.  Yes I agree a highly talented bunch      The kicker line was, and I nearly pissed myself laughing when you when you came with the 'probably better then now'       feck me how daft can you you be. A group of players who couldn't put one 'back to back win' in Ulster verses a team double Ulster winning team who missed qualifying for the All Ireland final this year by hair.      Have you tried stand up comedy yet?

Reign it in. Wildweasel is saying just what youve said. The team were underachievers. Youd be mad to question the talent of the individuals playing then. Those teams of the mid-00s boasted 4 all-star winners Paddy Bradley, SM Lockhart, Kevin McCloy and big Enda Muldoon. Then you still have skinner, Mark Lynch, Deets, Gerard O'kane. I could go on. If they were handled as well as this current squad that team wouldve lifted Sam.

The conditioning their fast guys have got from county hurling is I would imagine a big help. What odds a st brigid's Dunloy final  (highly unlikely to happen I imagine).

I notice no Molloy last night. I wonder how bad his injury is?

Big 2 maybe 3 weeks for the Dunloy club. They wouldn't want the hurling derailed by loughgiel in the middle of all this!

Bs always comes across very well in defeat or victory unlike some others! I do hope some day you see your club lift a title bs.

I dont think a dunloy brigids final is all that unlikely. Regardless of tomorrows result we are in for a great final. I was very impressed with dunloy last night. A real talented group of lads

My prediction would be Cargin outlast St brigids tomorrow and pull away at the end. And Dunloy bring it to them in the final.

Would be fantastic to see a double in antrim. Anyone know the last time this was achieved?

[excited]

You'd just hope the players were consulted in advance and were enthusiastic about this appointment, if not it might prove to be the most disastrous managerial switch since wee Eamon was moved on.
Given the position we're in with a young highly motivated squad and a few years of successful underage teams hopefully starting to come through, this appointment was always going to be pivotal. From a player's point of view, I can't see how the prospect of going to play for Mickey could be in any way appealing. The backroom team will have to be highly innovative to make up for the man at the helm.
Hopefully I'll be eating my words in 9 months time, but I can't understand this appointment and think it'll end in tears, let's hope it doesn't completely derail our chances with this group of players.

Are u serious, he is one of the best managers of all time ffs. There isn't a team he has taken that has not done well. Derry won't be regressing any time soon.

I agree.

I cannot think of a better man for the job. Outside of Jim Gavin .

There are some buck eejits around Derry if they dont see what Harte will bring... for him to go to Derry is a massive vote of confidence that the county can finally see above the long grass and are now finished with all the self loathing and begrudgery that has dogged them for generations. I for one will be excited for you folks.   

I dont know whether this will be a success or a fail. I do have my doubts. But you may be the only man in Ireland who is 'excited' to watch Derry football under the management of Mickey Harte. If there is one thing I can guarantee its that Mickey wont bring excitement.

[Bellaghy, Newbridge]

Of course the Downeys are talented lads but as to carrying the Musgrave men to a county title anytime soon.
As for Lavey replacing Glen top of the pops in Derry anytime soon  if that to happen are Bellaghy, Newbridge, etc coming to Antrim.

The Biddies never came close to a senior in our county and are these young lads gonna carry them over the line

Football to be played yet and I am sure Cargin are not about to abdicate......

Not ahead of Lavey anytime soon.

A good start for Lavey would be being in Divison 1...

leagues are for playing in...

look how the league winners got on against their neighbours.

But leagues also determine championship unless anything drastic happens Lavey are an intermediate team next year.
Be doing well to challenge Glen from there 

No. Im pretty sure that league and championship are now separate in derry. Lavey will still be playing senior championship next year unless they finish bottom of there group and lose championship relegation play off.
And I agree: leagues are for playing in. Dublin did fine this year playing in the second division. anyway. Downey boys or not. Lavey werent winning a championship this year nor next

[theres nothing spectacular there. Enda is a good asset as a left footed free taker but there rest are just fine.]

Sick of seeing ones complain about the lads who lost there starting spot. Ive seen these Downeys before and I seen them again yesterday and theres nothing spectacular there. Enda is a good asset as a left footed free taker but there rest are just fine. It seems to be that brigids (fairly minor) improvement is more down to there success at underage in recent years.
Really dont understand why these lads deserve this much airtime. If your upset some lavey lads took your starting spot then thats on you for not locking it down.

have you been living under a rock for 5 or 6 years.
this is easily one of the worst takes i've seen on this board for a long time.

I know what ive seen. Theres talent there im sure but I think this whole transfer nonsense has gotten them overhyped. God14 may well be right about matthew and i already praised enda. I dont like coming on here to talk down these young lads who have done no wrong but theres a reason lavey havent won anything since the 90s and it didnt look like these lads were going to get them over the line anytime soon anyway. Theyll have a better chance winning a championship in antrim in a few years anyway

[I doubt it's of any comfort to those players who are no longer in the reckoning for a start]

Was there a prior connection between the Downey's and St Brigid's or how did that come about? Obviously they've fallen out with Lavey so had to go play somewhere but presumably there was some reason St Brigid's were the chosen club.

Their mother's club AFAIK

Will the people on here be a wee bit more comforted knowing this information and they not just some random blow ins?

Ultimately it doesn't make a big difference to me personally as I've no dog in the race but I do think the fact they've gone to a club that they have family connections too makes a big difference.

They fell out with Lavey and unfortunately that shit happens. Young lads who no doubt grew up with the game so obviously needed a new home. There will have been easier options too where they could probably go and lift a load of medals but they've gone to a club that they have a connection too and also not one who have that winning tradition at senior level (yet).

I'd say it makes it easier for club people too. They'll know the family and know there's a connection to the club and not just complete outsiders turning up.

So based on this, the apparent link with Cargin first is complete nonsense and they had a burning desire all along to play for St Brigids.  Whilst a family connection might go some way towards explaining the move to that particular club, I doubt it's of any comfort to those players who are no longer in the reckoning for a start as well as those moving up into the senior ranks in the next year or two.

Sick of seeing ones complain about the lads who lost there starting spot. Ive seen these Downeys before and I seen them again yesterday and theres nothing spectacular there. Enda is a good asset as a left footed free taker but there rest are just fine. It seems to be that brigids (fairly minor) improvement is more down to there success at underage in recent years.
Really dont understand why these lads deserve this much airtime. If your upset some lavey lads took your starting spot then thats on you for not locking it down.

Its my understanding that the players are happy with Meenagh and the committee would prefer him too at least for continuity.

I cant see him (or whoever is in charge) bringing in a player of 29/30 years of age in Heavron given where this team is at.

Would Cormac Murphy be in with a shout? or Larry Kielt?

Why wouldn't a lad at 29/30 be in a shout?

Just the age profile doesn't match what this set up has typically looked for.
For the record I think he could certainly bring a lot to the panel especially considering how we have seemed a little light up front. Id be happy to see it, I just dont envision it

Its my understanding that the players are happy with Meenagh and the committee would prefer him too at least for continuity.

I cant see him (or whoever is in charge) bringing in a player of 29/30 years of age in Heavron given where this team is at.

Would Cormac Murphy be in with a shout? or Larry Kielt?

I have to imagine Derry / South Derry would be up there. Sure the entire starting team (and almost the entire squad) come from the South of the county (mid-ulster district).

[Kerry]

I cant remember the last time we had 4 interesting match ups like this. There are no mismatches anywhere.

Theres no easy game to call. Wouldnt be surprised if I get all 4 picks wrong.

Kerry by 5
Armagh by 3
Derry by 2
Mayo by 1