Messages

U20
Derry and Donegal have named strong sides for this evenings game. Roarty down to start for Donegal, Max Campbell on the bench. Derry unchanged from Fermanagh game which means, no Sargent for Derry.

All level at half time Max Campbell started and got a goal in the first minute  Donegal were 5 up at stage but 1-06 each at half time 

All level at half time, both teams having periods of dominance Max Campbell started and got a goal 30 seconds into the game  Cody Rocks started in place of Eamon Young

The Capture is great TV in my book. The 2nd series was better than the first and this one is taking it up a notch. Obviously a bit batshit with some holes in the plot but well made.

Started watching Bait on Amazon - from Riz Ahmed and it's a bit of a mess. Doesn't really know what it's trying to be and him, plus more, unlikeable characters.
Man Like Mobeen and Mo are both much better at what he is trying to do.

We are really enjoying the Capture as well , Medical dramas are not something I would typically watch but we started the Pitt over the weekend ,Season 1 was one of the most enjoyable series  we have watched in a long time

I've been told that if you keep refreshing the page new appointments can become available. maybe not in your first preference MOT centre.

Constantly refreshing the page has worked for me before ,  the earliest available dates for all of the testcentres were continually changing

What club the Keeper and McDaid(Presume hes Steelstown?)

Hampson from Swatragh, McDaid from Craigbane
https://x.com/UlsterGAA/status/2034350688336277969/photo/1

I think McDaid was at the Derry City academy for a while

By my counting there would be 6 changes from the corresponding team that won  that year's minors with  Oisin stepping away Luke Grant and Janes Sargent not fully fit and on bench which leaves Finbar Murray Jack McCloy and odhran Campbell being the other three changes ,( Murray and McCloy on the bench , I think someone had said earlier Campbell is at college in the states )

Where M Higgins from?

Magherafelt, younger brother of Dan and Conal

I don'tt know either of those although I remember A House's Endless Art & An Emotional Gish's Celebrate.  2 classics from the early 90s / Trip to Tipp era.  Those really were the days.

Two classics all right, The Fat Lady Sing's Arclight was another clinker from that era

 Go in Cookstown have went up to £1.49 from £1.29 since the weekend, Tesco still £1.31

Last I heard of Donnncha Gilmore he had injured his shoulder and had to get surgery. Another lad who has had his fair share of injuries. Agreed, he would be an asset for this panel and it would be great to have another city man on the panel.

Hopefully we will see him back. Could see him slotting with the other 7 of the 2020 AI Minor team on the panel - some return indeed.
Diamond, Downey, Higgins, McEvoy, McGurk, Murray, O'Donnell.
 

Thats a tough sell for me there, not sure where he fits personally, I think old rules protected individuals with slightly less football ability. ( Diplomatic?)

Don't see place for him in the back 6 or in the next 5 either. Going off 6 that started at weekend plus Clucky, Mc Evoy, Bradley, Mc Gurk, Mulholland.
O' Mianain another half back option I would think.

I get the importance of building a squad but has to be with right people, and also they need to be from South Derry.

Joking

Fairly harsh, better footballer than most you mentioned

I listened to Irish News podcast a few weeks ago and Cathair O'Kane was praising south Derry clubs for the work they're doing and discussed about how if Derry could harness a few more high quality players from north Derry, that they'd be even stronger. I'd say 90% are from south Derry club - which is a small enough area geographically.

I wonder what the breakdown is of county panels in terms of how many players they have from junior clubs? Be interesting to see I think.

Derry have always fell short when it comes to developing good players from Intermediate and Junior clubs into the County squad in comparison to Tyrone and Kerry for example. Lachlan Murray and Niall Loughlin are welcome exceptions but did they come through certain big schools to get noticed?

Paddy Cunningham is an Antrim legend in terms of his scoring and would have been good enough for Derry at the time. In his youth he grew up in the Waterside and played for Ardmore. If he hadn't moved to Belfast I don't think anyone would have heard of him because Derry wouldn't have given him a sniff.

In was interesting listening to the Monday Club Irish news podcast a few weeks ago when  Cahair O'Kane had noted that the last player from a junior club to play senior championship football for Derry was Mickey O'Brien from  the Loup back in 1980

It's unfortunate, but let's face it, two of them who left aren't good enough to play. Which is why they haven't played. McAteer had potential (and did play) so he's the only one that we can consider a loss.

As for Kearney, the fella has won the lottery currently as he'll probably never be on another county squad. So no idea why he'd walk away now. Byt he'll be further down the pecking order when the U20s are finished so who knows.

It's obviously a huge commitment for them but I wouldn't be losing any sleep. If Derry are to win an all Ireland it'll be with 18 or 19 core players not a raft of lads who blow in and out.

no sure of the winning the lottery analogy but 18/19 players will 100% not win us an all Ireland. It'll be a minimum of 22 odd all playing at a set standard.

Currently theres a gap between our best 5 and the next 12.
Its these squad players with potential that we really need to be holding onto. Massive commitment with very little glory but that's key to building the whole thing.
From the U20 squad who do you expect to join? Tommy Rogers and James Sargent are already floating about it.

Eamon young and Conal Higgins are part of the panel

Are young, Higgins and Roger's still under 20?

Yes and Eamon is under 20 next year also

It's unfortunate, but let's face it, two of them who left aren't good enough to play. Which is why they haven't played. McAteer had potential (and did play) so he's the only one that we can consider a loss.

As for Kearney, the fella has won the lottery currently as he'll probably never be on another county squad. So no idea why he'd walk away now. Byt he'll be further down the pecking order when the U20s are finished so who knows.

It's obviously a huge commitment for them but I wouldn't be losing any sleep. If Derry are to win an all Ireland it'll be with 18 or 19 core players not a raft of lads who blow in and out.

no sure of the winning the lottery analogy but 18/19 players will 100% not win us an all Ireland. It'll be a minimum of 22 odd all playing at a set standard.

Currently theres a gap between our best 5 and the next 12.
Its these squad players with potential that we really need to be holding onto. Massive commitment with very little glory but that's key to building the whole thing.
From the U20 squad who do you expect to join? Tommy Rogers and James Sargent are already floating about it.

Eamon young and Conal Higgins are part of the panel

What size is The Dome pitch and who runs it?

Finished 2-16 to 0-09 to Derry

Full time Derry 2-16 Antrim 0-09

Derry minors down by two against Antrim at half time , have the breeze in the second half