Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[toby47]

Good post Estimator. Would be good to see equivalent stats for other provinces to give context.

Would be interesting to see if other counties with relatively strong club, underage and school success have as much difficulty in translating that onto the senior county level.

Slightly off topic, we are where we deserve to be this year in terms of senior football team.
Tactically inept management in place as a result of an inept county board.
Not all the best players are involved, eg Danny Heavron.
Slaughtneil success hampered us, but realistically it shows the lack of strength in depth of the squad as probably only 3-4 starting players are from  slaughtneil.
Apathy from supporters has to be expected given the quality being offered up in terms of tactics and performance (we are not the only county like this though).

In other words, we have very little going for us apart from recent minor success and current u20s. It remains to be seen if mcerlain can translate that to the senior stage. It might be too much for anyone to do, but more difficult for an inexperienced....and dare I say it, inexpensive manager.

Time will tell, but currently it's sh1t being a Derry fan.

I think McErleans handling of things this season has hampered us for the next couple of seasons. Danny Heavron done his cruciate playing a club game he wouldn't have been playing had he been playing county football, so he won't be there next season. I have also heard Keenan and McFaul have both said they won't play again as long as McErlean is in charge after he dropped them the panel with 2/3 league games to go. Apparently Mark Lynch had said this was his last year playing county football so at early stages the panel could struggle to get stronger for the start of next season. Hope Keenan/McFaul was just a knee jerk comment and after a long winter are happy enough to be back on board again and Lynch decides to go again as he adds experience.

if Slaughtneil don't win the Ulster club Derry should walk Divison 4 and a winnable first round championship draw might help create more of a buzz among the panel.

[JoG2]

+2 good post

Agreed, great post, very interesting read Estimator

[Real Talk]

Good post Estimator. Would be good to see equivalent stats for other provinces to give context.

Would be interesting to see if other counties with relatively strong club, underage and school success have as much difficulty in translating that onto the senior county level.

Slightly off topic, we are where we deserve to be this year in terms of senior football team.
Tactically inept management in place as a result of an inept county board.
Not all the best players are involved, eg Danny Heavron.
Slaughtneil success hampered us, but realistically it shows the lack of strength in depth of the squad as probably only 3-4 starting players are from  slaughtneil.
Apathy from supporters has to be expected given the quality being offered up in terms of tactics and performance (we are not the only county like this though).

In other words, we have very little going for us apart from recent minor success and current u20s. It remains to be seen if mcerlain can translate that to the senior stage. It might be too much for anyone to do, but more difficult for an inexperienced....and dare I say it, inexpensive manager.

Time will tell, but currently it's sh1t being a Derry fan.

I think McErleans handling of things this season has hampered us for the next couple of seasons. Danny Heavron done his cruciate playing a club game he wouldn't have been playing had he been playing county football, so he won't be there next season. I have also heard Keenan and McFaul have both said they won't play again as long as McErlean is in charge after he dropped them the panel with 2/3 league games to go. Apparently Mark Lynch had said this was his last year playing county football so at early stages the panel could struggle to get stronger for the start of next season. Hope Keenan/McFaul was just a knee jerk comment and after a long winter are happy enough to be back on board again and Lynch decides to go again as he adds experience.

if Slaughtneil don't win the Ulster club Derry should walk Divison 4 and a winnable first round championship draw might help create more of a buzz among the panel.

Great post by estimator ....
D Heavron didn't do his cruciate until 11th March in a Club challenge game.  If he had been on the County Panel he would have been available for 4 games ...... maybe the injury would have happened anyway ... who knows.  In terms of 2017 Danny was our best and most consistent performer .... One of the most important functions of a manager is to get the best players on the pitch

[JoG2]

Good post Estimator. Would be good to see equivalent stats for other provinces to give context.

Would be interesting to see if other counties with relatively strong club, underage and school success have as much difficulty in translating that onto the senior county level.

Slightly off topic, we are where we deserve to be this year in terms of senior football team.
Tactically inept management in place as a result of an inept county board.
Not all the best players are involved, eg Danny Heavron.
Slaughtneil success hampered us, but realistically it shows the lack of strength in depth of the squad as probably only 3-4 starting players are from  slaughtneil.
Apathy from supporters has to be expected given the quality being offered up in terms of tactics and performance (we are not the only county like this though).

In other words, we have very little going for us apart from recent minor success and current u20s. It remains to be seen if mcerlain can translate that to the senior stage. It might be too much for anyone to do, but more difficult for an inexperienced....and dare I say it, inexpensive manager.

Time will tell, but currently it's sh1t being a Derry fan.

I think McErleans handling of things this season has hampered us for the next couple of seasons. Danny Heavron done his cruciate playing a club game he wouldn't have been playing had he been playing county football, so he won't be there next season. I have also heard Keenan and McFaul have both said they won't play again as long as McErlean is in charge after he dropped them the panel with 2/3 league games to go. Apparently Mark Lynch had said this was his last year playing county football so at early stages the panel could struggle to get stronger for the start of next season. Hope Keenan/McFaul was just a knee jerk comment and after a long winter are happy enough to be back on board again and Lynch decides to go again as he adds experience.

if Slaughtneil don't win the Ulster club Derry should walk Divison 4 and a winnable first round championship draw might help create more of a buzz among the panel.

Great post by estimator ....
D Heavron didn't do his cruciate until 11th March in a Club challenge game.  If he had been on the County Panel he would have been available for 4 games ...... maybe the injury would have happened anyway ... who knows.  In terms of 2017 Danny was our best and most consistent performer .... One of the most important functions of a manager is to get the best players on the pitch

Dropping and not contacting the likes of McGuckin, Heavron, the Coleraine men etc was always going to be a stick to beat the current management with. The non communication aside, it was a massive gamble to make and one which backfired.
Heavron not injure himself playing with the Sky Blues? Anyhoo, could have happened at anytime
Will be very interesting to see the squad Mackers assembles for next year.
As you say, you have to get the best players on the pitch Real Talk . I'd say if we all were to list a squad of 30 men for county duty, a huge % of us would list very similar panels.

[toby47]

Heavron hurt himself playing a challange game vs Trillick in which he wouldn't have been playing if he was part of the Derry squad. I don't think McGuckin is a county footballer, he wouldn't be in magherafelts top 3 forwards. I think leaving Ryan Bell was a bigger mistake, as I've said before in the game vs Mayo in 2017 Bell kicked 3 points from play, a couple months later he is deemed not good enough to make a panel which got relegated to division 4. A few big c**k ups by McErlean early doors ended up coming back to hurt him.

Derrys scores vs Mayo last year were -
Niall Loughlin 0-6 (5fs), Mark Lynch 1-1, Ryan Bell 0-3, Benny Heron, Danny Heavron, James Kielt (f) 0-1 each.

Out of the 1-13 derry scores that day only 1-2 of it was available this year. Loughlin travelling. Heavron/Bell not selected, Herron injured.

On top of that Danny Tallon, Ciaran McFaul and Niall Keenan all also started that game and left the panel at some stage during this year.

[lenny]

Good post Estimator. Would be good to see equivalent stats for other provinces to give context.

Would be interesting to see if other counties with relatively strong club, underage and school success have as much difficulty in translating that onto the senior county level.

Slightly off topic, we are where we deserve to be this year in terms of senior football team.
Tactically inept management in place as a result of an inept county board.
Not all the best players are involved, eg Danny Heavron.
Slaughtneil success hampered us, but realistically it shows the lack of strength in depth of the squad as probably only 3-4 starting players are from  slaughtneil.
Apathy from supporters has to be expected given the quality being offered up in terms of tactics and performance (we are not the only county like this though).

In other words, we have very little going for us apart from recent minor success and current u20s. It remains to be seen if mcerlain can translate that to the senior stage. It might be too much for anyone to do, but more difficult for an inexperienced....and dare I say it, inexpensive manager.

Time will tell, but currently it's sh1t being a Derry fan.

I think McErleans handling of things this season has hampered us for the next couple of seasons. Danny Heavron done his cruciate playing a club game he wouldn't have been playing had he been playing county football, so he won't be there next season. I have also heard Keenan and McFaul have both said they won't play again as long as McErlean is in charge after he dropped them the panel with 2/3 league games to go. Apparently Mark Lynch had said this was his last year playing county football so at early stages the panel could struggle to get stronger for the start of next season. Hope Keenan/McFaul was just a knee jerk comment and after a long winter are happy enough to be back on board again and Lynch decides to go again as he adds experience.

if Slaughtneil don't win the Ulster club Derry should walk Divison 4 and a winnable first round championship draw might help create more of a buzz among the panel.

Great post by estimator ....
D Heavron didn't do his cruciate until 11th March in a Club challenge game.  If he had been on the County Panel he would have been available for 4 games ...... maybe the injury would have happened anyway ... who knows.  In terms of 2017 Danny was our best and most consistent performer .... One of the most important functions of a manager is to get the best players on the pitch

Dropping and not contacting the likes of McGuckin, Heavron, the Coleraine men etc was always going to be a stick to beat the current management with. The non communication aside, it was a massive gamble to make and one which backfired.
Heavron not injure himself playing with the Sky Blues? Anyhoo, could have happened at anytime
Will be very interesting to see the squad Mackers assembles for next year.
As you say, you have to get the best players on the pitch Real Talk . I'd say if we all were to list a squad of 30 men for county duty, a huge % of us would list very similar panels.

Damien made mistakes and most were as a result of inexperience in the management setup. That is why a swap would work really well. Micky Donnelly has great experience and success at top clubs and with county underage. He could move up to the senior job and Damien could go back to the u20s for a couple more years to build his experience.

[Estimator]

Ultimately it was a missed free at the death that was the difference between victory and getting beat out the gate during extra time against Mayo last year.

If we go back a few years and look at our final games in the Championship, a bit of a pattern emerges under 3 different managers.

2013
Derry 0-20 Cavan 1-22

Derry were 1pt up with stoppage time up. Yet they let Cavan work the ball down the field to equalize and run up the scores in extra time.  Game management let the side down.  Even Joe Brolly lamented about the lack of tactical nous (cynicism) from the Derry players.

Derry: Eoin McNicholl; Aidan McAlynn, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride; Charlie Kielt, Mark Lynch (cpt), Sean Leo McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, Conor McAtamney; Benny Heron, James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Ryan Bell, Eoin Bradley, Emmett McGuckin.

Players in italics - not available for one reason or another.

2014
Derry 2-14 Longford 2-16

Jack Sheedy's side were relegated to Division 4 this spring, but they were comfortable against a Derry side who contested the division one final just two months ago.

Even when the brilliant Lynch and James Kielt got scores on the board, they were undone by a porous defence and shaky midfield.

Lynch's strike from 20m with seven minutes to go somehow brought Derry level at 2-11 to 1-14 but Hughes' dummy and finish was the decisive score.
(Above notes from Match Report)

Again Derry had the momentum and still found a way to lose.

DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, A McAlynn; G McKinless, M Craig, SL McGoldrick; M Lynch, K Johnston; A Devlin, E Bradley, E Lynn; J Kielt, T O'Brien, C McFaul
Subs: G O'Kane for McAlynn (BC, 14), B Heron for Duffy (24), N Holly for E Bradley (HT), D McKinless for Devlin (41)
Scorers for Derry – M Lynch 1-04 (2f), J Kielt 0-04 (1f), E Lynn 0-02, T O'Brien 0-02, B Heron 1-01 (a '45'), SL McGoldrick 0-01

2015

8Mins
Galway 0-0 Derry 0-3: Eight minutes in and Galway have yet to warm to the task as Daniel Heavron fires over another point for the visitors. It could have be more after Derry cut through the Galway defence but Heavron was content to take the point.

30Mins
​Galway 0-7 Derry 0-3: Conroy with a beautifully executed free as he judges the win perfectly to dissect the posts. Having seen replays of the incident which saw Rodgers shown the black card, the Derry man can feel harshly done by. Anyway, Karl McKaigue is on in his place.

41Mins
Galway 0-8 Derry 0-7:
Two points in quick succession and the gap is just one all of a sudden. Daniel Heavron with a sweetly struck point and then Cailean O’Boyle gets his name on the scoreboard. Game on.

61Mins
GOAL! Galway 1-11 Derry 0-7:Minutes after Derry had a penalty appeal waved away, Galway swarm forward and land the knock-out blow. Danny Cummins rounds off a fine team move with a clinical finish and Derry are up against it now.

(Above notes from live feed of the game)

Derry build up a lead then let Galway into the game.  Derry narrowed the gap to 1pt, but then register only one score for the rest of the game.

DERRY: T Mallon, O Duffy, C McKaigue, DMcBride, L McGoldrick, B Rogers, SL McGoldrick, N Holly, F Doherty, B Heron, M Lynch, E Lynn, D Heavron, Eoin Bradley, C O’Boyle

2016
1. Thomas Mallon – Not on panel
2. Gareth McKinless (Not on panel)
3. Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil, capt)
4. Karl McKaigue (Injured)
5. Ciarán McFaul (Not on panel)
6. Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil)
7. Ciarán Mullan (Not on panel)
8. Conor McAtamney (Swatragh)
9. Niall Holly (Not on panel)
10. Daniel Heavron (Not on panel)
11. Christopher Bradley (Not on panel)
12. Eoghan Brown (Not on panel)
13. James Kielt (Kilrea)
14. Emmett McGuckin (Not on panel)
15. Mark Lynch (Banagher)
**Lynn, Loughlin and Duffy started in place of Bradley, Brown and McKinless.

We had the same problems in that game this we still have now.

8Mins
Tipperary 0-3 Derry 0-1: Derry turn the ball over cheaply and Tipp run it straight back at them. Philip Austin brushes off Daniel Heavron and points after a fine solo run.

9Mins
Tipperary 0-4 Derry 0-1: Tipp are flying at the moment. Captain Peter Acheson works enough space to get his shot off and he points over Mallon’s crossbar.

11Mins
Tipperary 0-5 Derry 0-1: Ah, that’s a beaut by Michael Quinlivan. Tipp send a long ball in, Quinlivan gets out in front of Chrissy McKaigue and, as he gets back to his feet, takes one step to the side before pointing. Lovely.

52Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-11: Kiely and Austin are finding too much space now for Derry’s liking, and Kiely is fouled for the free which Quinlivann points.

55Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-12: Emmet Bradley brings Derry back to within three but every time Tipp get into Derry territory, they look like scoring.

69Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-18: Danny Heavron has options left and right, but he’s not interested. He pauses for a second to compose himself and kicks Derry into a two-point lead.

So a two point lead with time up!

70Mins
FIVE additional minutes.
Tipp have a free-in…

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-19: Kevin O’Halloran points the free. One point, four minutes…

70Mins
Peter Acheson gets to the high ball first and Tipp will have a free in midfield as they go in search of their equaliser.

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-20: ALL SQUARE! No panic for Tipp and Conor Sweeney nips around his marker and hangs the ball up into the wind, letting it sail over the bar.

70Mins
Acheson wins the kickout again — he’s been immense — and Tipp will have a chance.
But Neill Forrester does trojan work in defence to pounce on a loose ball. Derry clear.

70Mins
Tipperary 1-21 Derry 2-17: TIPP LEAD! Conor Sweeney! Less than 60 seconds left…
(Above notes taken from Live feed from game)

So Derry have had a number of issues to deal with over the last 5 years, in the championship and the qualifiers.  Remember that we lost those games with the likes of McGuckin, Bell, McFaul, Keenan, Skinner, McKinless and Heavron playing.

I’m not saying that they wouldn’t have strengthened the panel, of course they would. Maybe they would have been the difference between Div3 and Div4 next season. I am merely suggesting Derrys problems run deeper than management and team selection.

I don’t have any solutions or quick fixes either.

[TheOptimist]

Ultimately it was a missed free at the death that was the difference between victory and getting beat out the gate during extra time against Mayo last year.

If we go back a few years and look at our final games in the Championship, a bit of a pattern emerges under 3 different managers.

2013
Derry 0-20 Cavan 1-22

Derry were 1pt up with stoppage time up. Yet they let Cavan work the ball down the field to equalize and run up the scores in extra time.  Game management let the side down.  Even Joe Brolly lamented about the lack of tactical nous (cynicism) from the Derry players.

Derry: Eoin McNicholl; Aidan McAlynn, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride; Charlie Kielt, Mark Lynch (cpt), Sean Leo McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, Conor McAtamney; Benny Heron, James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Ryan Bell, Eoin Bradley, Emmett McGuckin.

Players in italics - not available for one reason or another.

2014
Derry 2-14 Longford 2-16

Jack Sheedy's side were relegated to Division 4 this spring, but they were comfortable against a Derry side who contested the division one final just two months ago.

Even when the brilliant Lynch and James Kielt got scores on the board, they were undone by a porous defence and shaky midfield.

Lynch's strike from 20m with seven minutes to go somehow brought Derry level at 2-11 to 1-14 but Hughes' dummy and finish was the decisive score.
(Above notes from Match Report)

Again Derry had the momentum and still found a way to lose.

DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, A McAlynn; G McKinless, M Craig, SL McGoldrick; M Lynch, K Johnston; A Devlin[/], E Bradley, E Lynn; J Kielt, T O'Brien, C McFaul
Subs: G O'Kane for McAlynn (BC, 14), B Heron for Duffy (24), N Holly for E Bradley (HT), D McKinless for Devlin (41)
Scorers for Derry – M Lynch 1-04 (2f), J Kielt 0-04 (1f), E Lynn 0-02, T O'Brien 0-02, B Heron 1-01 (a '45'), SL McGoldrick 0-01

2015

8Mins
Galway 0-0 Derry 0-3: Eight minutes in and Galway have yet to warm to the task as Daniel Heavron fires over another point for the visitors. It could have be more after Derry cut through the Galway defence but Heavron was content to take the point.

30Mins
​Galway 0-7 Derry 0-3: Conroy with a beautifully executed free as he judges the win perfectly to dissect the posts. Having seen replays of the incident which saw Rodgers shown the black card, the Derry man can feel harshly done by. Anyway, Karl McKaigue is on in his place.

41Mins
Galway 0-8 Derry 0-7:
Two points in quick succession and the gap is just one all of a sudden. Daniel Heavron with a sweetly struck point and then Cailean O'Boyle gets his name on the scoreboard. Game on.

61Mins
GOAL! Galway 1-11 Derry 0-7:Minutes after Derry had a penalty appeal waved away, Galway swarm forward and land the knock-out blow. Danny Cummins rounds off a fine team move with a clinical finish and Derry are up against it now.

(Above notes from live feed of the game)

Derry build up a lead then let Galway into the game.  Derry narrowed the gap to 1pt, but then register only one score for the rest of the game.

DERRY: T Mallon, O Duffy, C McKaigue, DMcBride, L McGoldrick, B Rogers, SL McGoldrick, N Holly, F Doherty, B Heron, M Lynch, E Lynn, D Heavron, Eoin Bradley, C O'Boyle

2016
1. Thomas Mallon – Not on panel
2. Gareth McKinless (Not on panel)
3. Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil, capt)
4. Karl McKaigue (Injured)
5. Ciarán McFaul (Not on panel)
6. Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil)
7. Ciarán Mullan (Not on panel)
8. Conor McAtamney (Swatragh)
9. Niall Holly (Not on panel)
10. Daniel Heavron (Not on panel)
11. Christopher Bradley (Not on panel)
12. Eoghan Brown (Not on panel)
13. James Kielt (Kilrea)
14. Emmett McGuckin (Not on panel)
15. Mark Lynch (Banagher)
**Lynn, Loughlin and Duffy started in place of Bradley, Brown and McKinless.

We had the same problems in that game this we still have now.

8Mins
Tipperary 0-3 Derry 0-1: Derry turn the ball over cheaply and Tipp run it straight back at them. Philip Austin brushes off Daniel Heavron and points after a fine solo run.

9Mins
Tipperary 0-4 Derry 0-1: Tipp are flying at the moment. Captain Peter Acheson works enough space to get his shot off and he points over Mallon's crossbar.

11Mins
Tipperary 0-5 Derry 0-1: Ah, that's a beaut by Michael Quinlivan. Tipp send a long ball in, Quinlivan gets out in front of Chrissy McKaigue and, as he gets back to his feet, takes one step to the side before pointing. Lovely.

52Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-11: Kiely and Austin are finding too much space now for Derry's liking, and Kiely is fouled for the free which Quinlivann points.

55Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-12: Emmet Bradley brings Derry back to within three but every time Tipp get into Derry territory, they look like scoring.

69Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-18: Danny Heavron has options left and right, but he's not interested. He pauses for a second to compose himself and kicks Derry into a two-point lead.

So a two point lead with time up!

70Mins
FIVE additional minutes.
Tipp have a free-in...

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-19: Kevin O'Halloran points the free. One point, four minutes...

70Mins
Peter Acheson gets to the high ball first and Tipp will have a free in midfield as they go in search of their equaliser.

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-20: ALL SQUARE! No panic for Tipp and Conor Sweeney nips around his marker and hangs the ball up into the wind, letting it sail over the bar.

70Mins
Acheson wins the kickout again — he's been immense — and Tipp will have a chance.
But Neill Forrester does trojan work in defence to pounce on a loose ball. Derry clear.

70Mins
Tipperary 1-21 Derry 2-17: TIPP LEAD! Conor Sweeney! Less than 60 seconds left...
(Above notes taken from Live feed from game)

So Derry have had a number of issues to deal with over the last 5 years, in the championship and the qualifiers.  Remember that we lost those games with the likes of McGuckin, Bell, McFaul, Keenan, Skinner, McKinless and Heavron playing.

I'm not saying that they wouldn't have strengthened the panel, of course they would. Maybe they would have been the difference between Div3 and Div4 next season. I am merely suggesting Derrys problems run deeper than management and team selection.

I don't have any solutions or quick fixes either.

Painful redaing

[theticklemister]

Ultimately it was a missed free at the death that was the difference between victory and getting beat out the gate during extra time against Mayo last year.

If we go back a few years and look at our final games in the Championship, a bit of a pattern emerges under 3 different managers.

2013
Derry 0-20 Cavan 1-22

Derry were 1pt up with stoppage time up. Yet they let Cavan work the ball down the field to equalize and run up the scores in extra time.  Game management let the side down.  Even Joe Brolly lamented about the lack of tactical nous (cynicism) from the Derry players.

Derry: Eoin McNicholl; Aidan McAlynn, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride; Charlie Kielt, Mark Lynch (cpt), Sean Leo McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, Conor McAtamney; Benny Heron, James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Ryan Bell, Eoin Bradley, Emmett McGuckin.

Players in italics - not available for one reason or another.

2014
Derry 2-14 Longford 2-16

Jack Sheedy's side were relegated to Division 4 this spring, but they were comfortable against a Derry side who contested the division one final just two months ago.

Even when the brilliant Lynch and James Kielt got scores on the board, they were undone by a porous defence and shaky midfield.

Lynch's strike from 20m with seven minutes to go somehow brought Derry level at 2-11 to 1-14 but Hughes' dummy and finish was the decisive score.
(Above notes from Match Report)

Again Derry had the momentum and still found a way to lose.

DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, A McAlynn; G McKinless, M Craig, SL McGoldrick; M Lynch, K Johnston; A Devlin[/], E Bradley, E Lynn; J Kielt, T O'Brien, C McFaul
Subs: G O'Kane for McAlynn (BC, 14), B Heron for Duffy (24), N Holly for E Bradley (HT), D McKinless for Devlin (41)
Scorers for Derry – M Lynch 1-04 (2f), J Kielt 0-04 (1f), E Lynn 0-02, T O'Brien 0-02, B Heron 1-01 (a '45'), SL McGoldrick 0-01

2015

8Mins
Galway 0-0 Derry 0-3: Eight minutes in and Galway have yet to warm to the task as Daniel Heavron fires over another point for the visitors. It could have be more after Derry cut through the Galway defence but Heavron was content to take the point.

30Mins
​Galway 0-7 Derry 0-3: Conroy with a beautifully executed free as he judges the win perfectly to dissect the posts. Having seen replays of the incident which saw Rodgers shown the black card, the Derry man can feel harshly done by. Anyway, Karl McKaigue is on in his place.

41Mins
Galway 0-8 Derry 0-7:
Two points in quick succession and the gap is just one all of a sudden. Daniel Heavron with a sweetly struck point and then Cailean O'Boyle gets his name on the scoreboard. Game on.

61Mins
GOAL! Galway 1-11 Derry 0-7:Minutes after Derry had a penalty appeal waved away, Galway swarm forward and land the knock-out blow. Danny Cummins rounds off a fine team move with a clinical finish and Derry are up against it now.

(Above notes from live feed of the game)

Derry build up a lead then let Galway into the game.  Derry narrowed the gap to 1pt, but then register only one score for the rest of the game.

DERRY: T Mallon, O Duffy, C McKaigue, DMcBride, L McGoldrick, B Rogers, SL McGoldrick, N Holly, F Doherty, B Heron, M Lynch, E Lynn, D Heavron, Eoin Bradley, C O'Boyle

2016
1. Thomas Mallon – Not on panel
2. Gareth McKinless (Not on panel)
3. Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil, capt)
4. Karl McKaigue (Injured)
5. Ciarán McFaul (Not on panel)
6. Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil)
7. Ciarán Mullan (Not on panel)
8. Conor McAtamney (Swatragh)
9. Niall Holly (Not on panel)
10. Daniel Heavron (Not on panel)
11. Christopher Bradley (Not on panel)
12. Eoghan Brown (Not on panel)
13. James Kielt (Kilrea)
14. Emmett McGuckin (Not on panel)
15. Mark Lynch (Banagher)
**Lynn, Loughlin and Duffy started in place of Bradley, Brown and McKinless.

We had the same problems in that game this we still have now.

8Mins
Tipperary 0-3 Derry 0-1: Derry turn the ball over cheaply and Tipp run it straight back at them. Philip Austin brushes off Daniel Heavron and points after a fine solo run.

9Mins
Tipperary 0-4 Derry 0-1: Tipp are flying at the moment. Captain Peter Acheson works enough space to get his shot off and he points over Mallon's crossbar.

11Mins
Tipperary 0-5 Derry 0-1: Ah, that's a beaut by Michael Quinlivan. Tipp send a long ball in, Quinlivan gets out in front of Chrissy McKaigue and, as he gets back to his feet, takes one step to the side before pointing. Lovely.

52Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-11: Kiely and Austin are finding too much space now for Derry's liking, and Kiely is fouled for the free which Quinlivann points.

55Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-12: Emmet Bradley brings Derry back to within three but every time Tipp get into Derry territory, they look like scoring.

69Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-18: Danny Heavron has options left and right, but he's not interested. He pauses for a second to compose himself and kicks Derry into a two-point lead.

So a two point lead with time up!

70Mins
FIVE additional minutes.
Tipp have a free-in...

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-19: Kevin O'Halloran points the free. One point, four minutes...

70Mins
Peter Acheson gets to the high ball first and Tipp will have a free in midfield as they go in search of their equaliser.

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-20: ALL SQUARE! No panic for Tipp and Conor Sweeney nips around his marker and hangs the ball up into the wind, letting it sail over the bar.

70Mins
Acheson wins the kickout again — he's been immense — and Tipp will have a chance.
But Neill Forrester does trojan work in defence to pounce on a loose ball. Derry clear.

70Mins
Tipperary 1-21 Derry 2-17: TIPP LEAD! Conor Sweeney! Less than 60 seconds left...
(Above notes taken from Live feed from game)

So Derry have had a number of issues to deal with over the last 5 years, in the championship and the qualifiers.  Remember that we lost those games with the likes of McGuckin, Bell, McFaul, Keenan, Skinner, McKinless and Heavron playing.

I'm not saying that they wouldn't have strengthened the panel, of course they would. Maybe they would have been the difference between Div3 and Div4 next season. I am merely suggesting Derrys problems run deeper than management and team selection.

I don't have any solutions or quick fixes either.

Painful redaing

Estimators excellent reasearch and delivery skills didn't make it painful reading one bit.

You off again today lad?

[toby47]

You'd expect our boys to go on and win the ulster final now.

Armagh have 10 men suspended for the game, including 6 starters

[oakleaflad]

You'd expect our boys to go on and win the ulster final now.

Armagh have 10 men suspended for the game, including 6 starters

Armagh are appealing the decision so we'll have to wait and see. I fancy our lads anyway. Great group with a great mentality and the majority still U19. Maybe brighter days ahead if we all have some patience.

[tooolonggg]

You'd expect our boys to go on and win the ulster final now.

Armagh have 10 men suspended for the game, including 6 starters

Armagh are appealing the decision so we'll have to wait and see. I fancy our lads anyway. Great group with a great mentality and the majority still U19. Maybe brighter days ahead if we all have some patience.

+1

[TheOptimist]

Ultimately it was a missed free at the death that was the difference between victory and getting beat out the gate during extra time against Mayo last year.

If we go back a few years and look at our final games in the Championship, a bit of a pattern emerges under 3 different managers.

2013
Derry 0-20 Cavan 1-22

Derry were 1pt up with stoppage time up. Yet they let Cavan work the ball down the field to equalize and run up the scores in extra time.  Game management let the side down.  Even Joe Brolly lamented about the lack of tactical nous (cynicism) from the Derry players.

Derry: Eoin McNicholl; Aidan McAlynn, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride; Charlie Kielt, Mark Lynch (cpt), Sean Leo McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, Conor McAtamney; Benny Heron, James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Ryan Bell, Eoin Bradley, Emmett McGuckin.

Players in italics - not available for one reason or another.

2014
Derry 2-14 Longford 2-16

Jack Sheedy's side were relegated to Division 4 this spring, but they were comfortable against a Derry side who contested the division one final just two months ago.

Even when the brilliant Lynch and James Kielt got scores on the board, they were undone by a porous defence and shaky midfield.

Lynch's strike from 20m with seven minutes to go somehow brought Derry level at 2-11 to 1-14 but Hughes' dummy and finish was the decisive score.
(Above notes from Match Report)

Again Derry had the momentum and still found a way to lose.

DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, A McAlynn; G McKinless, M Craig, SL McGoldrick; M Lynch, K Johnston; A Devlin[/], E Bradley, E Lynn; J Kielt, T O'Brien, C McFaul
Subs: G O'Kane for McAlynn (BC, 14), B Heron for Duffy (24), N Holly for E Bradley (HT), D McKinless for Devlin (41)
Scorers for Derry – M Lynch 1-04 (2f), J Kielt 0-04 (1f), E Lynn 0-02, T O'Brien 0-02, B Heron 1-01 (a '45'), SL McGoldrick 0-01

2015

8Mins
Galway 0-0 Derry 0-3: Eight minutes in and Galway have yet to warm to the task as Daniel Heavron fires over another point for the visitors. It could have be more after Derry cut through the Galway defence but Heavron was content to take the point.

30Mins
​Galway 0-7 Derry 0-3: Conroy with a beautifully executed free as he judges the win perfectly to dissect the posts. Having seen replays of the incident which saw Rodgers shown the black card, the Derry man can feel harshly done by. Anyway, Karl McKaigue is on in his place.

41Mins
Galway 0-8 Derry 0-7:
Two points in quick succession and the gap is just one all of a sudden. Daniel Heavron with a sweetly struck point and then Cailean O'Boyle gets his name on the scoreboard. Game on.

61Mins
GOAL! Galway 1-11 Derry 0-7:Minutes after Derry had a penalty appeal waved away, Galway swarm forward and land the knock-out blow. Danny Cummins rounds off a fine team move with a clinical finish and Derry are up against it now.

(Above notes from live feed of the game)

Derry build up a lead then let Galway into the game.  Derry narrowed the gap to 1pt, but then register only one score for the rest of the game.

DERRY: T Mallon, O Duffy, C McKaigue, DMcBride, L McGoldrick, B Rogers, SL McGoldrick, N Holly, F Doherty, B Heron, M Lynch, E Lynn, D Heavron, Eoin Bradley, C O'Boyle

2016
1. Thomas Mallon – Not on panel
2. Gareth McKinless (Not on panel)
3. Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil, capt)
4. Karl McKaigue (Injured)
5. Ciarán McFaul (Not on panel)
6. Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil)
7. Ciarán Mullan (Not on panel)
8. Conor McAtamney (Swatragh)
9. Niall Holly (Not on panel)
10. Daniel Heavron (Not on panel)
11. Christopher Bradley (Not on panel)
12. Eoghan Brown (Not on panel)
13. James Kielt (Kilrea)
14. Emmett McGuckin (Not on panel)
15. Mark Lynch (Banagher)
**Lynn, Loughlin and Duffy started in place of Bradley, Brown and McKinless.

We had the same problems in that game this we still have now.

8Mins
Tipperary 0-3 Derry 0-1: Derry turn the ball over cheaply and Tipp run it straight back at them. Philip Austin brushes off Daniel Heavron and points after a fine solo run.

9Mins
Tipperary 0-4 Derry 0-1: Tipp are flying at the moment. Captain Peter Acheson works enough space to get his shot off and he points over Mallon's crossbar.

11Mins
Tipperary 0-5 Derry 0-1: Ah, that's a beaut by Michael Quinlivan. Tipp send a long ball in, Quinlivan gets out in front of Chrissy McKaigue and, as he gets back to his feet, takes one step to the side before pointing. Lovely.

52Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-11: Kiely and Austin are finding too much space now for Derry's liking, and Kiely is fouled for the free which Quinlivann points.

55Mins
Tipperary 1-15 Derry 1-12: Emmet Bradley brings Derry back to within three but every time Tipp get into Derry territory, they look like scoring.

69Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-18: Danny Heavron has options left and right, but he's not interested. He pauses for a second to compose himself and kicks Derry into a two-point lead.

So a two point lead with time up!

70Mins
FIVE additional minutes.
Tipp have a free-in...

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-19: Kevin O'Halloran points the free. One point, four minutes...

70Mins
Peter Acheson gets to the high ball first and Tipp will have a free in midfield as they go in search of their equaliser.

70Mins
Derry 2-17 Tipperary 1-20: ALL SQUARE! No panic for Tipp and Conor Sweeney nips around his marker and hangs the ball up into the wind, letting it sail over the bar.

70Mins
Acheson wins the kickout again — he's been immense — and Tipp will have a chance.
But Neill Forrester does trojan work in defence to pounce on a loose ball. Derry clear.

70Mins
Tipperary 1-21 Derry 2-17: TIPP LEAD! Conor Sweeney! Less than 60 seconds left...
(Above notes taken from Live feed from game)

So Derry have had a number of issues to deal with over the last 5 years, in the championship and the qualifiers.  Remember that we lost those games with the likes of McGuckin, Bell, McFaul, Keenan, Skinner, McKinless and Heavron playing.

I'm not saying that they wouldn't have strengthened the panel, of course they would. Maybe they would have been the difference between Div3 and Div4 next season. I am merely suggesting Derrys problems run deeper than management and team selection.

I don't have any solutions or quick fixes either.

Painful redaing

Estimators excellent reasearch and delivery skills didn't make it painful reading one bit.

You off again today lad?

Don't get me wrong, excellent writing just very bad memories. I remember them all well. The Cavan one in 2013 was a hot day in Celtic Park, we were 3 down I think at half time and came flying out of the blocks in the second half but I remeber skinner missed an easy one which slowed our momentum. Don't think Lynch missed a free that day. We had a blatant penalty turned down in the first half also, when skinner was rugby tackled in the box. If we won that it was a game against London for a place in the quarters.


The Longford one was very painful in that it was only 3 games earlier we were beating Mayo in Croker with only 14 men. What a goal from Lynch though, a bullet from memory. I remember the Longford goal to finish it of, the dummy around Mallon seemed to be in slow motion.


The Galway one was a travesty. How we didnt get that Penalty when O'Boyle was denied an easy tap in, and then Galway carrying it up the other end and hitting the back of the net. That was one of the worst refereeing performances I have ever seen. Think all but one of Galways points in the first half was from frees with maybe three being carried forward to scoring positions and Rogers black card left us all scratching our heads. It was a long drive home.

Tipperary was a class game in front of a very small crowd. A few errors cost us that one. Mallon slipped for one of their goals and blasted a kick out down the middle when retaining possession was key at the end. Our goal to go ahead was a well worked quick free kick and Rogers (who was doing best man for his brother the same day) put a shot to equalise at the end left of the posts. Probably a case of the wrong man shooting.

One common factor (apart from the Galway one) is that they were all very entertaining games. We love losing high scoring matches. The Galway one McIvor actually tried a defensive game but bad refereeing will mean we will never know if it could have worked.

[Derry Optimist]

There are three main reasons for the current unhappy state of Derry football in my opinion.

Number one problem is that in the absence of a credible alternative Derry concede the opposing team's kick outs to the opposition as well as refusing to go long with their own.In both the Donegal and Kildare games Derry literally handed a total of twelve points to the opposition in this unbelievably easy manner.The reason for this is quite simple..They can not depend on their middle sector players to win possession which is probably a true reflection of the fact that the current team is missing  quality players who are strong enough,tall enough,athletic enough and intelligent enough to win ball in this vital sector..This glaring deficiency is at the heart of our present situation.Unfortunately I believe we will have to wait until present U20 stars like Oisin McWilliams  and Callum Brown ( if he does not go to Australia) mature into Senior football ball winners before this situation can be properly addressed.

However problems numbers two and three with help from all the stakeholders,management,players,clubs and County Board can definitely be rectified.

Problem number two  has been that all the players have not been available for a variety of reasons for all Derry's league games this year.Through no fault of anyone, except the system of playing the All Ireland Club championships concluding stages at the same time as the League, the six Slaughtneil players were missing for most of the League which in essence led to Derry's relegation to Division Four. For next year Derry must have all of their current panel plus all of this years absentees available for all League games next year.The bonus for all concerned is that management and players  would have five months to prepare proper and efficient defensive and offensive tactics together as opposed to the scanty six weeks which they had together before this year's championship opener against Donegal.

Problem number three can be easily resolved with a will and a heart that puts the welfare of Derry football at the centre of everybody's interest.In simple terms a hopefully fit again and Derry's most consistent performer in both 2016 and 2017, Daniel Heavron, must be asked to return to what he does best..I would expect that his two Magherafelt club men on the management team, Damian McErlain and Barry Gillis, will come to an amicable arrangement with Danny Heavron for his inclusion in the Derry panel for the 2019 season. Similarly I believe Emmett McGuckin and Ryan Bell ( remember he can consistently put the ball over the bar from distance as he did against Mayo last year) must also be recalled.

So if everybody in Derry, in positions of  authority, really want our county to succeed next year they will immediately set in train a process to implement my suggested solutions for Derry's three major issues as outlined above.That will mean that Derry will have at least eight  more influential and dedicated Derry players in their ranks next year.They are Daniel Heavron,Niall Keenan, Ciaran McFaul,Niall Loughlin,Ryan Bell,Garth McKinless,Niall Holly  and Emmett McGuckin( at least four of them are guaranteed starters).Maybe Christopher Bradley  and others who refused in the past could also be persuaded to join the good ship Derry! All hands on board please .There is a wonderful job to be done and much needed silver to be won! Doire Abu.

[Glenman93]

There are three main reasons for the current unhappy state of Derry football in my opinion.

Number one problem is that in the absence of a credible alternative Derry concede the opposing team's kick outs to the opposition as well as refusing to go long with their own.In both the Donegal and Kildare games Derry literally handed a total of twelve points to the opposition in this unbelievably easy manner.The reason for this is quite simple..They can not depend on their middle sector players to win possession which is probably a true reflection of the fact that the current team is missing  quality players who are strong enough,tall enough,athletic enough and intelligent enough to win ball in this vital sector..This glaring deficiency is at the heart of our present situation.Unfortunately I believe we will have to wait until present U20 stars like Oisin McWilliams  and Callum Brown ( if he does not go to Australia) mature into Senior football ball winners before this situation can be properly addressed.

However problems numbers two and three with help from all the stakeholders,management,players,clubs and County Board can definitely be rectified.

Problem number two  has been that all the players have not been available for a variety of reasons for all Derry's league games this year.Through no fault of anyone, except the system of playing the All Ireland Club championships concluding stages at the same time as the League, the six Slaughtneil players were missing for most of the League which in essence led to Derry's relegation to Division Four. For next year Derry must have all of their current panel plus all of this years absentees available for all League games next year.The bonus for all concerned is that management and players  would have five months to prepare proper and efficient defensive and offensive tactics together as opposed to the scanty six weeks which they had together before this year's championship opener against Donegal.

Problem number three can be easily resolved with a will and a heart that puts the welfare of Derry football at the centre of everybody's interest.In simple terms a hopefully fit again and Derry's most consistent performer in both 2016 and 2017, Daniel Heavron, must be asked to return to what he does best..I would expect that his two Magherafelt club men on the management team, Damian McErlain and Barry Gillis, will come to an amicable arrangement with Danny Heavron for his inclusion in the Derry panel for the 2019 season. Similarly I believe Emmett McGuckin and Ryan Bell ( remember he can consistently put the ball over the bar from distance as he did against Mayo last year) must also be recalled.

So if everybody in Derry, in positions of  authority, really want our county to succeed next year they will immediately set in train a process to implement my suggested solutions for Derry's three major issues as outlined above.That will mean that Derry will have at least eight  more influential and dedicated Derry players in their ranks next year.They are Daniel Heavron,Niall Keenan, Ciaran McFaul,Niall Loughlin,Ryan Bell,Garth McKinless,Niall Holly  and Emmett McGuckin( at least four of them are guaranteed starters).Maybe Christopher Bradley  and others who refused in the past could also be persuaded to join the good ship Derry! All hands on board please .There is a wonderful job to be done and much needed silver to be won! Doire Abu.

Keenan - yes
McFaul - yes
Loughlin - will he come home?
Bell - will he get fit enough?
McKinless - will he turn up?
Holly - will work allow?
McGuckin - will he be any different?
Heavron - will he take orders?