Messages

I think Derry's weakness ( if you can call it that ) is that they can really lift themselves for the big teams and can fall in a heap against so called lesser opposition - why do you think that it is ?

Good question.  uummm sometimes i think you can focus more when your facing whats perceived to be bigger oppositon. Being the under-dog certainly has its advantages. You know you have it all to do if you are to win and progress, whereas whilst being favourites like derry were against Monaghan perhaps a little bit of complacency crept into the heads of the players. Some players that is, depends on the individual i guess. This is where good management comes in IMHO. Plus knowing in the back of your head you will get a nother bite at the cherry maybe had a bearing too.
This same happens down to club level as well.

What you reckon??

The whole Derry team did a good job in Healy Park last year if I remember correctly ! Do you think you can beat Laois ? I think you will but complacency might be a wee problem - hopefully not and that will be another Ulster representative in the last 8 -

Aye the team played well last year Orangeman, i was just highlighting Hinphey's contribution because he was given the unenviable task of tracking Cavanagh but he doen very well. Anyway thats in the past...
On the laois game, it will be a very tough one. They are a sharp running side, they league game at celtic park this year was a great game that ended in a draw so im expecting another close affair.
I know what your saying about complacency but as long as we keep the thing in context (beating an armagh side on the slide and Mayo just fell apart in the second half)

For God and Ulster! 

I can't speak about Hinphey but Walsh was an absolute disgrace in 2005 - he kicked him, spat at him, punched him - please let's not even think about that !

I am not condoning the supposed actions of Nicolas Walsh but im merely stating that this was only one of the few occasions that i seen cavanaghs threat being thwarted. Hinphey done a grand job in Healy park last year.

we cant be putting the cart before the horse here, the thing has to be kept in context.
Anyway, its very hard to read the form this year. Dublin looked really, really good yesterday but if Derry to go out and beat Laois, then the strength of leinster as a province will surely come into question.
Derry seem to thrive on the back door system with games coming thick and fast, whereas other teams do not enjoy this! Hard to beat a wee bit of momentum, so may the good run continue! 

Cluxton

Mallon  McCloy  Lockhart
Harte  Gormley D.Freeman

Cavanagh   Whelan

Masters   Brogan   Keaney
Cooper   Donaghy  Bradley


what ya think of that for a first 15? 

[Versus]

OK lads bear with me but does it go sumthin like this;

Derry/Laois v Kerry
Galway/Meath v Tyrone
Monaghan/Donegal v Sligo
Cork/Louth v Dublin.

Then its the winner of;
Galway / Meath / Tyrone Versus Monaghan / Donegal / Sligo

And;

Derry / Laois / Kerry Versus Cork / Louth / Dublin

I think it would be a huge injustice to say Monaghan were dirty. They played very hard and really emptied the tank but just came up a little short, on another day they could have won.
They made a lot of good catches around the middle but just couldnt convert this midfield dominance on the scoreboard.

Sean cavanagh was exceptional, but did get a fair bit of room at times. IMO he is the fulcrum of the tyrone team and if he can be thwarted your in with a decent chance. Its just having the right man to do the job e.g Liam Hinphey of Derry last year in Omagh, Nicolas Walsh of Cavan a couple of years ago in clones the first day.

Well done Derry and to the management! A great second half, perhaps the scoreline didnt really reflect the game in general but we really opened up near the end. Even had time for a bit of "champagne football!"  Not often we are in that position!!

Fair play to the mayo support for bringin such big numbers. Really added to the occasion!
Big mayo full-forward Moran could be a big player next season in every sense, caused McCloy a few problems but it was a great tussle.

Dooher and Freeman will be some tussle. freeman will certainly not be lacking in fitness or athleticism to put it up to Dooher. Should be a good one.

On the betting front, Monaghan +3 points at 6/5 isnt a bad bet (thats on paddy power)
a three point start in any game between two ulster teams aint bad!

I think any County manager who includes a player who's not making his club team will come in for criticism!

So who should have been on in his place then? Surely if there were men going well in training and pushing for their place they would get their chance? as i said paddy mc keever has been in poor form for some time now, i would have thought he could have got the chop.
Thought Philly Loughran would have got a run out.

Just from some one outside of Armagh, i think the criticism about stephen kernan is unjutified. he didnt do so bad against Donegal and done well yesterday. maybe you should be looking elsewhere, its a right while since paddy mc keever had a big game. He was excellent in the all-ireland semi against tyrone in croker in 2005 but since that his form has dipped something shocking. A player i always rated very highly.

as for s.kernan not making the cross team, its no bad team! murtagh maybe seen others guys would be for effective just in that particular team, doesnt necessarily mean they would have it at county level but kernan might and could do a job.

Like mark harte, he will always come in for criticism cos of his dad.

Barney, the parking facilities aint bad in fairness. Providing your not too late theres a fair chance you'll get parked very close to the pitch. Good car parking near the brandywell (home of derry city f.c)

Hopefully muldoon will be back in time and start the game. Devlin was very impressive yesterday, so along with bradley and muldoon derry could be a potent enough full forward line.

derry will take mayo if it is played in that hellhole fortress celtic park. was only it once back in 92 and will never set foot in it again. hope  they decide the venue is not up to scratch and play it somewhere like breffni - that is mayos only chance.

How can you say that celticpark is not up to scratch? it is a fine venue. Home draw is a BIG help to derry. im looking forward to the game. And with Muldoon to comebackafter a bout off flu id be hopeful of getting the win. Lockhart will hopefully marshall conor mortimer.

Have you Derry wans seen the video of a Loup man diving into the urinal at Casement? Yeuk!

Whats this all about?  i aint seen it anyway but now you have mentioned it i'll be sure to get hold of it this weekend!

No doubt you called his bluff LS.
Typical of some 'punters' & I use the term loosely. From experience he may have been one of these boys that shout the place down, or in this case,  make a big point of it on the board expecting you to refuse the bet, but when you said you would lay it he pulled his horns in.
If a punter wanted the bet he would have taken it as soon as you replied. By stalling he proved he was full of sh1t.

I think you have hit the nail on the head here full-back, well said. 
anyone can talk the talk after all....