Messages

I'm especially happy Slaughtneil won as it will have annoyed the 'Enda Gormley brigade' who were out in force here last week; but haven't been heard of since.

Should we send out a search party for Silverhill?

Newbridge complete the league and championship double, and reserves also win the league. Quite an achievement for Paddy Bradley in his first management job in the county.

Quite fortunate he took the team when they were ranked #1 in Div.2 and not the worst team in Div.1, though. Season could have been so much different.

[By the way does anyone know when the County Board will announce the management teams for Derry's U17 and U20 teams for next year?]

After the steep learning curve of the disappointment of Derry's comprehensive   All Ireland Minor defeat, no doubt Damian McErlain and his management team will have realised the futility of persisting with a game plan which does not include the presence of a sweeper or the concept of a top player(albeit a phenomenally physically developed and extraordinarily talented individual in the case of David Clifford) being double - marked in the modern game.

That said and that harsh lesson undoubtedly learned I have no doubt that both Damian and his Minor players will bounce back  to replicate the magnificent individual and team performances that they have cumulatively given over the course of the last three years.The talent both on and off the field is definitely there.Their biggest tactical challenge is to learn from the mistakes of the past and to adapt accordingly.

Players like Conor McCluskey,Oisin and Lorcan McWilliams,Callum Brown,Declan Cassidy( surprisingly not given much game time during the minor campaign),Paddy Quigg and Padraig McGrogan are only some of the players from this year's minor squad who have the ability to develop into top class Senior inter county players.Others when they develop physically have the skill sets to join them.

So despite the mistakes of last Sunday Damian McErlain has  restored pride and confidence in Derry football again.Everyone will wish him well as he attempts  to ensure that all the best players will be available for inter county Senior duty when he announces his new panel in the coming weeks.

By the way  does anyone know when  the County Board will announce the management teams for Derry's U17 and U20 teams for next year?

Any idea who could get these jobs?

Seamus Downey has done great work with Lavey underage and should surely be considered.

Should senior players who excluded themselves from the panel this year as a result of not liking the manager be allowed back next year?

Silver hill - have you ever put your name forward for the Glen managers position?