Derry Club Football & Hurling original

Real Talk · March 22, 2026, 07:47:16 PM

Derry played at a slow pace throughout. Cavin had a reason to win.... Derry hadn't

Derry management tried out some of their squad players to give them some game time ... non of them really impressed .. but it was great to watch 'Clucky' bringing a whole lot of energy and pace to the game

By some distance i thought Nial Loughlin was their most effective forward in terms of work rate and his goal was a cracking volley

We certainly need all our players fit and ready to go in the Championship

Topmarks · March 22, 2026, 09:37:06 PM

I've held my powder dry until the end of the league to give my take, I was hoping it would have been after a league final but not to be.

Firstly, good to win all our home games. I thought we played well against Tyrone, Offaly and Cork. Today was not great, it felt at times we went through the motions.

I thought Paudie, Gareth, Ethan and CD had strong performances in most games. Lachlan also played well and we need to find a way to get him involved more often. Hopefully our senior players improve as the year goes on. Meenagh did say today some boys didn't get a full pre season and I thought it showed.

I agree with some posts on here in regards to our play. We play a fairly slow controlled build up when attacking. It really only works when everyone is playing at a high intensity with and without the ball. Too often it's sideways and not hurting the opposition. I felt the Meath and Louth games were quite similar where we didn't look like we could hurt them for long spells with our attack looking quite blunt.

It's far from doom and gloom. Lessons to learn in March is not a bad thing. We can build into the championship and an Ulster final is attainable. After that I'm not so sure.

One thing we do need is for everyone to be available as a part from Forbes I'm not sure anyone new has staked a claim for a starting shirt. There is definitely potential in Sean Young and Conall Higgins and the way they're putting Sargent through his paces would indicate they may use him further down the line.

Let's see what the summer brings. Hopefully we can build steadily, and get involved at the business end of the championship.

JB3456 · March 23, 2026, 12:06:03 PM

Dissapointing end to the league, the game in ardee did us

Shame as on a bigger pitch in newbridge louth conded 25 pointa, but thats just how it goes

We were in this position in 2022 and kicked on hopefully can do the same, it really would be a disaster if we do not make an ulster final then who knows

imtommygunn · March 23, 2026, 02:34:12 PM

What position would Sargent play?

jb77 · March 23, 2026, 02:54:54 PM

If he comes in this year, somewhere in the back 6 probably a true CHB. Would hope he develops to play anywhere in the middle 8 as time goes on

He was a back in the forwards vs backs yesterday anyway which was good to see.

Marty Bradley, Shea Downey, McEvoy, Patrick McGurk, CD all on the bench.

Ryan O · March 23, 2026, 04:01:05 PM

Quote from: jb77 on March 23, 2026, 02:54:54 PMIf he comes in this year, somewhere in the back 6 probably a true CHB. Would hope he develops to play anywhere in the middle 8 as time goes on

He was a back in the forwards vs backs yesterday anyway which was good to see.

Marty Bradley, Shea Downey, McEvoy, Patrick McGurk, CD all on the bench.

Not sure we can say a true CHB, the lad has never played senior football so I wouldn't be labeling him with potential positions yet.
Clucky is a superb CHB for Magherafelt but he will never play CHB for Derry.

HonDerry · March 23, 2026, 05:00:49 PM

Agreed with that, in my view, young players coming into a county squad need at least a couple of seasons to establish themselves. There are a few exceptions, of course. But even a player as talented as James Sargent will need time before a manager can see where he best fits.

Equally, the older players need to bring them in when they can. I have noticed on our current team a tendency by some of the older, established players not to give or hesitate before giving the pass to the younger, inexperienced teammate.

It happened to Sean Young yesterday, and then 5 minutes later, he got the ball and scored a good point.

Wildweasel74 · March 23, 2026, 05:39:54 PM

Sargent needs to be trained up to be McKinless Replacement.

JoG2 · March 23, 2026, 06:05:00 PM

Quote from: Real Talk on March 22, 2026, 07:47:16 PMDerry played at a slow pace throughout. Cavin had a reason to win.... Derry hadn't

Derry management tried out some of their squad players to give them some game time ... non of them really impressed .. but it was great to watch 'Clucky' bringing a whole lot of energy and pace to the game

By some distance i thought Nial Loughlin was their most effective forward in terms of work rate and his goal was a cracking volley

We certainly need all our players fit and ready to go in the Championship

You gotta feel for Niall...think this is maybe the only post mentioning him. He's been , by a country mile our best forward all campaign. The man is in some form

(Welcome to the board Niall)

tbrick18 · March 24, 2026, 10:03:45 AM

Niall Loughlin is the most underrated player Derry has had in the last 5 years.
Is work rate is immense and he can score. I think this is the first season he's being used as an out-and-out scoring forward and it's working well. In previous seasons he played more as a link player, tracking back into our defensive unit, but he seems to be more focused on attack now.

A fully fit and functioning full forward line of Murray, Loughlin and Shane will be dangerous against any team.

On Sargent, I agree it's too early to say where he'd be best positioned. But he certainly has the attributes to play CHB - a lot will depend on how he physically develops though too.

We've a few weeks now to get Clucky, McEvoy, CD back to fitness. They don't necessarily need to be starting against Antrim, but it would be good to get a half of playing together again as early as possible.
We're getting a bit of strength on the bench now which is good.

Any updates on Gilmore, Oisin McWilliams and Lynch?

Rawhide · March 24, 2026, 10:16:25 AM

Just reading through the Antrim Camogie page who are playing D1 with all their best players available and performing well. Then in Derry we are in D2 and doing very poorly, tanked at the weekend and an embarrassing write up on the game on the Camogie facebook. The vast majority of the best players from the top teams in the county are not playing. What happened from 3 seasons ago when we had most of the best players playing and won the All Ireland intermediate. 2 players from s'neil, one I think from my own club Swatragh and none from Bellaghy who had 7 there over the past 3years. Screen I think has 2 there as well. Something seriously wrong when that is happening

Wildweasel74 · March 24, 2026, 05:23:35 PM

The problen is that full forward line, none of them are fast enough to beat a man over 20/25m if Derry looking to kick quick ball in.Why D McDermott not on the panel? Was on it tail end of last yr?

jb77 · March 24, 2026, 08:41:45 PM

Murray dealing with Osteitis Pubis wouldnt help matters, took a right thump before the game too

Silver hill · March 25, 2026, 12:39:51 AM

Quote from: Wildweasel74 on March 24, 2026, 05:23:35 PMThe problen is that full forward line, none of them are fast enough to beat a man over 20/25m if Derry looking to kick quick ball in.Why D McDermott not on the panel? Was on it tail end of last yr?

Murray plays in that full forward line and he's the best I've seen one on one for Derry in the past 20 years (including the two Bradleys).

Rawhide · March 25, 2026, 10:01:55 AM

Quote from: Wildweasel74 on March 24, 2026, 05:23:35 PMThe problen is that full forward line, none of them are fast enough to beat a man over 20/25m if Derry looking to kick quick ball in.Why D McDermott not on the panel? Was on it tail end of last yr?

I am left speechless after reading that. Murray is pace & power, your street cred on foot IQ just plummeted