Messages

16

GAA Discussion / Re: Tyrone v Derry - Sunday 12th May - Omagh 4.00pm

« on: May 09, 2019, 11:10:51 AM »

Looking forward to this. The wee sneaky win against Dublin, albeit in the league, and the shift in gameplan has me excited for the year ahead. A bit disappointed young Canavan wont be featuring this year but I think it's the right decision. If we are going to go with Donnelly and McShane inside with Harte and Sludden supporting them then where would he realistically play. I think until he becomes undroppable he's going to struggle to make any real impact in the seniors just like a lot of the other really talented smaller forwards we've had recently.

I'd say daddy Peter will be controlling when its best to release 'young Canavan'.   He could appear under the radar in the super 8's when they many County backroom analysist haven't had an opportunity to get to know is strength's and weaknesses

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: May 08, 2019, 11:05:39 PM »

Unfortunately JoG its not as simple as going man-to-man and Tyrone have a serious movement in their ranks and lots of pace too. As Shane McGuigan said in the Derry Post this week if we do we will be hammered again … The Gap in quality is too big to do a 'Liverpool or Spurs' on Tyrone. 

Just hope that the U20's and Minors can continue to raise something positive 'going forward' and get us a solid base of quality and commitment.

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: March 31, 2019, 10:37:25 PM »

After all is said and done Derry went through the league unbeaten and you can't do any better than that.  We're not going to beat Tyrone but it would be good experience to add to the panel some of the more capable U20's and then get a bit of a run in the Qualifiers.

To be realistic JoG we really haven't too many "big hitters".   Ciaran McFall was missed yesterday to give us a bit of power and quality in the middle third.  Keenan played well and is gifted with a "second gear" and is a very competent tackler. All of them worked very hard both with and without the ball.

 It will be a work in progress to improve our performances and then give Div 3 a rattle next year

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: March 18, 2019, 03:05:43 PM »

1 thing I did notice. I don't think there was a North Derry man named on the 26 man panel today .Surely that's strange.

Is the Steelstown club in your 'north Derry'?

I heard Mooney and McGoldrick from Coleraine are back home and training again with the County …. so that's another 2 so called " North Derry" men …. With me its simple "One Club - One County"

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: March 06, 2019, 09:18:00 PM »

Just glad that we have got promoted and in the quickest way possible.  So hopefully the best of the U20's can add a bit of "strength in depth" to our panel and maybe they will get a run out in the Qualifiers. 

Was Brendan Rogers injured again for last Sunday ?

Think he might have been with the hurlers last weekend

He was at a wedding on the Saturday (when the footballers played). Was named on the hurling panel for Sunday, not sure if he played.

Good to hear he is not injured … gives us a great physical presence with a good attacking streak in him

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: March 06, 2019, 04:26:53 PM »

Just glad that we have got promoted and in the quickest way possible.  So hopefully the best of the U20's can add a bit of "strength in depth" to our panel and maybe they will get a run out in the Qualifiers. 

Was Brendan Rogers injured again for last Sunday ?   

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: January 23, 2019, 10:53:05 PM »

Thanks seafoid.

I would expect 10 or so points in it.

Really !!!!!

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: January 09, 2019, 12:12:52 PM »

Delighted Derry got that win v Fermanagh.  A win is very important for Management and Players' moral … just need to get a good solid playing structure built.   Also hope Ryan's injury is not too serious.

24

Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: January 03, 2019, 11:02:01 PM »

Off work for a few days over the Christmas Hols. I’ve followed Bellaghy’s journey and success through twitter and videos from Jerome Quinn.  I’ve also been reading a few articles recently about Gweedore and their underage success which has fed into the senior side.  As well as that Mal McMullan tweeted about Derry’s success in the Ulster Minor Club Comp. 

I decided to look further into the correlation between minor success and senior success. If we look at some of the Derry clubs that have also won the Ulster Minor Tournament, there is a clear correlation to triumph for the Senior teams.

Dungiven
Ulster Minor Champs: 1990 ; Ulster Senior Champs: 1997
County Champions: 1991 & 1997

Bellaghy
Ulster Minor Champs: 1991 & 1994 ; Ulster Senior Champs: 1994 (Finalists ’96, 98, 05)
County Champions: 1994, ’96, ’98, ’99, 00, ’05 (Finalists: ’95, ’01, ’03)

An Lub
Ulster Minor Champs: 1993 & 1995 ; Ulster Senior Champs: 2003 (Finalists ’09)
County Champions: 2003 & 2009 (Finalists: 2002, ’05, ’06)

Ballinderry
Ulster Minor Champ: ’96, ’97, ’01 & 08 ; Ulster Senior Champs: ’01 & ’13 (Finalists ’06, ’08)
County Champions: 1995, ’01, ’06, ’08, 2011-13 (Finalists: ’99,’00, ’03, ‘10, ‘14)

Slaughtneil
Ulster Minor Champ: ’98 ; Ulster Senior Champs: ’14, ’16, ’17
County Champions: 2004, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17 (Finalists: ’08, ’12)

Kilrea
Ulster Minor Champs: 2007
County Finalists: 2011

Of the Derry winners in the St Paul’s tournament only Kilrea have yet to make the breakthrough at senior level.

Even looking at sides that have won the county minor title, an appearance in the Senior County final normally follows as well. Since the year 2000 the following teams have played in the county final:
Bellaghy (W2 L3), Ballinderry (W7 L4), An Lub (W2 L4), Slaughtneil (W5 L2), Glenullin (W1), Dungiven (L1), Coleraine (W2 L1), Kilrea (L1), Ballinascreen (L2), Lavey (L1)

Most of those teams have had victories in minor and u21 competitions prior to their appearance in the senior final. I believe only Glenullin and Coleraine didn’t win county titles at either those two age groups.

The sides that have won minor or u21 (recently) and haven't made an appearance (yet) in a senior county final are Magherafelt and Glen.

Which takes me on to another comparison. Between the two most recent winners of the Ulster U21 tournament. Gweedore and Glen.  Glen won the competition three consecutive years prior to Gweedore’s win.

There was a lot of emphasis on the age profile of the Gweedore side that won the senior championship and how that was the impetus for their senior side. Looking at Gweedore’s victory in the Ulster Club C’ship, would those in Glen not wonder why they haven’t reached a County Final (Yet) never mind a winning the Senior Ulster Club.

The Gweedore side that won the U21 title in Feb:

Gaoth Dobhair: Charles Doherty; Ciaran McHugh; Gary McFadden; Ryan Kelly; Conor McCafferty; Niall Friel; Neasán Mac Gíolla Bhride; Michael Carroll; Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Naoise Ó Baoill; Cian Mulligan; Daire Ó Baoill ; Seaghan Ferry; Gavin McBride; Eamonn Collum
Subs:
Conor Boyle

The Gweedore side that won the Seamus McFerran:
GAOTH DOBHAIR: Christopher Sweeney; Gary McFadden, Neil McGee, Christopher McFadden; Niall Friel, Eamonn McGee, Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Daire O Baoill, Odhran MacNiallais; Cian Mulligan, Naoise O Baoill, Daniel McBride; Eamonn Collum, Kevin Cassidy, Micheal Carroll
Subs: J Carroll, S Ferry, P McGee, J Boyle

I’m open to correction, but that’s 8 players that started both finals. And one that came off the bench in the Senior Final. That is some influx of young players into the senior side in one season. Which is some achievement for the club.  I’d say if you compared the U-21 winning sides from Glen with the team that played against Lavey in the senior semi-final this year, you’d find a similar scenario.

Glen’s underage trophy cabinet compares favourably with Gweedore’s, and those lads would be further down the line in terms of playing senior football.  Is there a reason why their underage success translated into senior success? (yet)

What other factors come into play?

I know that TFAL is all about tradition and history playing a part.  Teams that have a history of winning or have players that know how to win.  McEntee also alludes to that in his Irish News column today.  Its also been referenced on the main Ulster Minor Club thread.

The loss of talent (ie Conor Glass) can play a part too.  Whether that be to University, drinking in Belfast, losing interest, moving away, Job, marriage etc.  Are there other talented players from those successful sides that have been lost to any of the above?

Age profile of the team – “The right mix of players” The youth of the Gweedore team was talked about a lot, though having Cassidy, McGees, McNiallais in the side was more important. Any club in the county would gladly take those players and expect success.

Final thought on this long ramble: How many people on here would back Glen to win the John McLaughlin, before Bellaghy or Lavey?   (Using these two clubs as they’ve fit the profile of history/tradition, as well as having won underage titles recently)

(*This is not a takedown of Glen, this is just looking at the link between underage and senior success – plus I’m off work for a few days and very bored*)

You mentioned Gweedore having 8 starters who tasted U21 success - from the team which was beaten in the Derry semi-final, Glen had 14 starters who had recent Under 21 success. Philip O'Connell is around 32, the next oldest 24 then right down to 18. Compare that with the 3 McGee's, Kevin Cassidy, their keeper, McNiallais, McFadden and 1 or 2 others, all who provide a very experienced spine. A vastly different age & experience profile to Glen.
The defeat to Lavey was disappointing but Glen will learn from it and move forward.

Concentrate your energies on your own club. Screen have also won recent minor titles with no senior success to show. The biggest parish in Derry if not Ulster, 20+ miles square, 99.9% nationalist, no bordering clubs fighting for players - if you're that bored over the holidays, take a long look at your own club ...

This was a very interesting post from Estimator and he put a lot of knowledge and detail into it … the size of Balinascreen Parish is irrelevant … it certainly didn't bore me reading it …

25

Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: January 01, 2019, 09:21:12 PM »

Brilliant result for Bellaghy today and for Derry football,  gives these lads another 3/4 years and Bellaghy will be winning the John McLaughin Cup … its in the 'genes'

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: December 28, 2018, 05:27:50 PM »

We need at least 10 mature good Club players to be on this panel because those teams we are playing will not have too many young inexperienced fells on their teams.  What about Daniel Heavron, has to been asked to join the panel ?   While he may be short of club game time due to the bad injury he got earlier in the year he's still one of the very best in the County.  I don't want to hear about preparing for Tyrone in the championship (that's a waste of time ) our only focus should be concentrating on getting a settled team early in the League campaign and grinding out a promotion …   

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: December 27, 2018, 08:46:59 PM »

Is there any evidence to suggested that Damian McErlean is the right man for the job ?

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: December 19, 2018, 10:27:37 PM »

And what would Oakleaf's preferred  spine be for the League campaign ?

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: December 19, 2018, 08:10:49 PM »

Start of the new season and my annual good wishes.just wishing the derry management and players all the best for the year ahead.we have enough quality to cruise through the league and get ready for our neighbours in the championship.

So, are you certain that Doire will win Division 4 of National Football League?

You would think we'd learn by now that nothing is certain but you would think that, with the talent we have, we really should get promotion at the very least.

Given the players that have committed for Derry in 2019 (at this stage) who would the spine of your starting team be ie :

Goalkeeper
Full Back
CH Back
2 Mid-fielders
CH Forward
Full Forward

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Derry / Re: Derry Club Football & Hurling

« on: December 08, 2018, 03:29:14 PM »

Just heard. Derry legend. A brilliant player who was a real leader on the pitch. A real driving force who never shirked responsibility. Enjoy the inter county retirement biggin.

Agree with all that has been written and spoken about him ..... Fantastic top quality player who give his all for the team and a real good hearted person