Messages

As much as it's a, good sign young lads are coming through I was always a believer that the best players standing out in club championship should get a chance. Some of those lads to me are still too young yet. We taking guys of a year out from minor teams without letting grow into their age group at U20, Players like Fergal Doherty(19), Niall McCusker,(18)Ciaran McFaul,(18/19) Tohill,(20) & Heaney (19) coming onto a senior team at a very young age were an exception, not the norm.

I agree, not the norm .. but Div 4 wasn't the norm either. We are lacking talent up front so if any young players have the ability, now, get them in there so that we can challenge for an Ulster title in the next 2-4 years or get back into the first division.

A serious improvement in strength and conditioning under Gallagher. Looking forward to the challenges of Division 2 to see if we can raise our game another notch - consistently.

I suppose the Derry team to play Monaghan will not be released until about 7.40 pm tomorrow night !!!!!

It's on the Derry Twitter account.

Be interesting to see how Matthew Downey and young Murray from Desertmartin  adapt to senior county football

Both did well and will mature even more. Matthew has superb potential. Good result tonight but had the chances to win. Thought McGrogan, Doherty, Lynch and McCloskey were excellent. Players challenging for positions - exactly what Gallagher wants. Referring poor and disadvantaged Derry in scoring positions x 4. Anton's debut will silence the media circus! Doire abú - get behind the team!

A few of the younger lads did well but you'd think like all other counties there needs to a progression from minors to 20s to seniors. Throwing a lot of lads in from minors isn't done by top counties, unless there's a David Clifford type player. The last two years U20s level are taken to not worth a look at going by the this. Tohill playing calls the whole idea of it being based on ability and what you have done to deserve a call up into question. Didn't do anything at underage for Derry and hasn't done anything for his club as yet and yet gets a run out for Derry.  All the chat of players from outside Senior level or God forbid from north Derry not being up to the standard is shown to be a nonsense.

We are not a top county - yet!  The Tohill 'opportunity' will run its course and the North Derry thing is so outdated and immature. It is a whole county effort so better to get behind the team.

Nope, a stiff breeze done the damage.

Á, Tuigim! Stoirm Dhonncha!

As a fellow asthmatic back in those days when the GAA introduced their drugs protocol or whatever they called it back then, I remember sitting down with the team physio and filling it out must have been mid 00's IIRC. I mentioned the Salbutomol/Ventolin to him and he said not to bother as it wasn't performance enhancing and information was scarce enough back then on what was allowed and what wasn't.  I distinctly remember him telling the panel not to be using creatine as he personally thought it was shít and also they couldn't be sure what else was in it.

A puff of the inhaler before a training or game was normal enough back then and if the chest was a bit tight leading up to a game you'd have a few puffs in the morning or afternoon before getting stripped similar to what Aidan did only to get his name splattered all over the papers at the time..

Remember Marcus Horan getting in similar bother for the same thing...

Was it steroids that caused him to go down so dramatically v Donncha O'Connor?!

Not so pleased about 2 different jerseys in 2 years (which I'm sure is due to the new sponsor) but this one is very nice!

I agree, nice. Would prefer DOIRE though!!! 

You can watch the Derry and Monaghan game for free whilst using the twitter browser through ulster gaa page

It was just £10 on beospórt.

I suppose the Derry team to play Monaghan will not be released until about 7.40 pm tomorrow night !!!!!

It's on the Derry Twitter account.

Be interesting to see how Matthew Downey and young Murray from Desertmartin  adapt to senior county football

Both did well and will mature even more. Matthew has superb potential. Good result tonight but had the chances to win. Thought McGrogan, Doherty, Lynch and McCloskey were excellent. Players challenging for positions - exactly what Gallagher wants. Referring poor and disadvantaged Derry in scoring positions x 4. Anton's debut will silence the media circus! Doire abú - get behind the team!

I'm not sure what is wrong with Joe tbh. But in common parlance his head up is ..hole.

Wait till Paul Grimley gets hoult of Joe! 🤣

I can see him loving the limelight and blowing kisses in Croke Park!! Temperament and integrity would be severely lacking though. Let me tell you a story when I, me and myself were all .....

Apparently his latest remarks not going down well in Dungiven

I can imagine that being true ok. For all his academic intelligence he seems to lack emotional intelligence. His charm has got him out of a few tricky situations in the past although he may be running out of road. Notice how his recollections and stories are getting more bizarre as time goes on - a sign that the Dungiven well is running dry.

Looks like his next interview gonna be with the cops.

Possibly, but not many will truly believe his 'atonement' story. Probably a cover for his impulsive nature and egotistical tendencies.

Joe's parents, Anne and Francie, were a fairly successful musical duo on the Folk Club/traditional scene in the 70s so boarding school for the children helped to facilitate this. Joe may have overstated the 'away from the troubles' thing. From Dungiven .... to Armagh?!!

Lockhart - one of the best defenders in the country let alone in Derry. Has to be first pick.
Paddy Bradley - one of the most natural finishers I've ever seen superb strength to win his own ball. Carried Derry forwards for years and I don't ever remember him finishing a game scoreless.

Really difficult to choose between Muldoon/Doherty.....dead heat.
Muldoon - always posed a goal threat, had an amazing eye for a pass, was top drawer in the air and could play in a multitude of positions. A pleasure to watch.
Doherty - pure heart and determination making him one of the best midfielders in the country for 10 years. His aerial ability was astounding and his physical strength un-matched. I remember him taking Ciaran Whelan to the cleaners in a year Whelan won an allstar.

I can't pick between the two of them.

Not far behind Muldoon and doherty.....Mark Lynch, Kevin McCloy (had 2/3 unreal seasons), Sean Leo McGoldrick, Conleith Gilligan (for his passing and free taking ability).

We really did have a generation of players who didn't get their just reward. I believe a combination of poor management and inept county board cost us big time in the early-mid noughties.

Would agree with most of that - exception being Conleith, an absolutely outstanding club player but never really had the same impact at intercounty level.  All Star awards are not necessarily a perfect guide but Lockhart, Bradley and Muldoon all got one!   Mind you McCloy also got one but I would put Doherty ahead of him!

Forget Joe.  In terms of analysis, Martin Clarke is really excellent.  Great football knowledge with no side-show.