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Reading through the senior team selections, there's definitely a bit of bias showing.
For example:

Picking lads based mainly on the team that won back-to-back championships. What some of the older boys could do two years ago doesn't automatically mean they can do it now under the new rules, which demand far more high-paced running.

Selections that lean towards their club men.

The reality is we need to see how the McKenna Cup and National League actually play out. Let the players earn their spots, and let the management pick the boys who are in the right physical and mental shape for championship football.

Most importantly Meenagh deserves our backing. After a couple of years of uncertainty around the management setup, we finally have stability again so he needs to be given the trust to do things properly. From everything I have heard about him, he is a honest man who knows his stuff.

I'm also hearing positive things: a new gym, better medical setup and a great panel with a blend of young, hungry players alongside the battle-hardened men who know what it takes. We're in a good position to push forward again after two seasons where we slipped backwards.

And finally support. At our last National League game in Armagh, you'd have been lucky to count 50 Derry supporters. That can't happen again. This team deserves better from all of us.

Owen Higgins and Murphy Overage
Odhran Campbell underage
Jude Bryson from Faughanvale started last year on the U20S so that he will be in a good position for a place

I posted this a while back and don't think I'm far out in terms of the next generation of Derry players. It will be interesting to see if many of these lads can get a run this year.

A lot of these lads will be playing for the u20s next week. Serious group coming through.

I was just watching a few clips of the Derry u20 match against Tyrone this year as I had little to be at and got thinking about the amount of serious footballers coming through. I'm sure I'm missing a few but if we can get a good lot of these boys through I think we are on to something. I've listed backs and forwards and a couple of midfield options. Let me know if I've missed anyone out.

Backs
F McEldowney
L Grant
J Murray
C Spiers
P Haran
P McGurk
D McDermott
F Murray
O Campbell
R Small
P Okane
P McMullan

Midfield
E McAvoy
R Forbes
T Rogers
R McGill

Forwards
J Sargent
J McGuckin
E Young
L Murray
N O'Donnell
D Gilmore
D Rocks
R McNicholl
C Chambers
E Higgins
C Higgins
O Doherty

For the most part I would  agree but there are a few in the list that have not progressed and I don't  see them making it at county level. 

In the midfield section I would only have Rodgers as a midfielder and Dan Higgins needs to be in that list as he is the same age as McEvoy and Gilmore. McEvoy is a standout centre half back, Forbes can play half back or half forward. McGill is better in forwards I think.

What about big Regan from Lavey? Or Hendry? Saw him play a couple of times this year and he was impressive

And speaking of forbes, his ballinderry teammate O'Donnell worth a call-up surely. I know he was out all season, but he had a great 2024

Yes Louis Reagan should be in the mix for keepers but his club situation not helping him. Henry was very good but don't know if he has got call up.

Niall O'Donnell was on the non playing panel last year so expect there is a good chance he will get called up

Rodgers is good enough to play anywhere - I'd still have him in MF though. The Glass/Rodgers MF combination did well for us a couple of years back.
IF everyone is fit, a HB line of McGrogan, McKinless, CD is hard to go past, even though I think McEvoy's best position is CHB. He'll prob be FB with Clucky and 1 of Baker/McGurk in the other corner.
Rodgers could play any of those positions, CD/McKinless/Higgins/Rodgers/Glass all MF options - again all subject to fitness and injuries.

I didn't realise Lynch was going to be out for so long. Hopefully Scullion will return. Any other keepers in the mix?

Bound to be a few additions to the panel from Magherafelt and Newbridge too you'd imagine.

Yep worked very well for us 2 years ago but that's not to say they are exactly the same player now - miles on the clock.McFaul, Rodgers and McKinless now in their thirties. We need to see younger lads step up and start to claim their place just as these older lads once did. And we need a bigger all round panel with strong players competing for every position

Not sure where Rodgers will play. Miles mounting on the clock but some option for full back. Eoin McEvoy never liked it there - much better in half backs. This is where we want to be. Good men fighting over positions

I have updated the list above with James Murray and Martin Bradley, Marty had a good season last year but got injured so I would assume he is still there.
Ruari Forbes is in the list

I wouldn't know if Ryan McNicholl deserves a chance, I didn't see any of the Glenullin games. My original post was simply to get a list of who is in the new panel.

I heard too that there was a couple of St Bridgids men on the panel.

All will be revealed soon I suppose.

ok I will add Charlie and Kevin Quinn onto the Non-match day panel. Charlie had a decent club championship, not sure about Kevin.

Donnacha Gilmore I will add to that list.

Eamonn Young and Conall Higgins are both u20 but have heard that they have been added to the senior panel. Haven't heard that Finn has been added. Either way, we will see how the U20 and senior management decide to work with these players

Havent heard anything about Ruari Forbes and AFL

All in all, shaping up to be a very strong panel as there will be others to add in there.  A solid goal Keeper is still the key question. Lynch I understand, will be out for several months.

Here is the match day panel from Derry's last championship game this year, against Dublin in Newry earlier this year. Who has been added and subtracted from the list?


1.  Odhran Lynch 
2.  Diarmuid Baker 
3.  Eoin McEvoy 
4.  Patrick McGurk 
5.  Conor Doherty 
6.  Brendan Rogers 
7.  Padraig McGrogan 
8.  Conor Glass 
9.  Dan Higgins 
10. Ethan Doherty 
11. Paul Cassidy 
12. Ciaran McFaul 
13. Shane McGuigan 
14. Niall Loughlin 
15. Niall Toner 
16. Ben McKinless 
17. Conor McCluskey 
18. Ryan Mulholland 
19. Danny McDermott 
20. Tommy Rogers 
21. Anton Tohill 
22. Ruairi Forbes 
23. Lachlan Murray 
24. Cahir McMonagle 
25. Caolan Devlin 
26. Ben McCarron

Non Match Panel
Charlie Diamond
Kevin Quinn

Additions
I will add the obvious
Gareth McKinless
Donncha Gilmore
Martin Bradley

Then the players I hear that have been added but not confirmed

Sean Young
Eamonn Young
Shea McGuckin
Conall Higgins
James Murray
Jack Doherty
Sean Kearney

Subtractions
I hear Anton Tohill is not part of the panel.

[In summary, - Newbridge and Magherafelt are top 2 talented teams in Derry]

Lads, on the outside looking in here.

Another poster suggests SNeil have the best squad in Ulster - do most Derry people think that? There is a lot of quality teams in Derry never mind Ulster to suggest SNeil is the best was a surprise shout to me, to be honest.

I said the below 3 days ago

"I think Newbridge and Magherafelt will be battling it out for top spot, and others will move up the pecking order. I think Lavey (based on age profile) is the most likely to move Glen/Slaughtneil off a top 3 or 4 spot, then Steelstown or Dungiven.

Both Slaughtneil and Glen have 5 or 6 starters over 30, and the quality isn't there in their younger players to replace some of these icons.

They will still compete for sure, but it will be rebuilding for both of them. The circle of life.

If anyone thinks differently, provide some details, not wishful thinking. Let's get some debate going."


In summary, - Newbridge and Magherafelt are top 2 talented teams in Derry. Magherafelt are in the reserve final, as well as the senior and Newbridge reserves are strong too. As for what is coming in the next 3 years, the Magherafelt underage production line is stronger than Newbridge's.

I wouldn't say either team are finished, yeah they might not win back to back titles next year again but will still be there at the business end next year.

I disagree. I think Newbridge and Magherafelt will be battling it out for top spot, and others will move up the pecking order. I think Lavey (based on age profile) is the most likely to move Glen/Slaughtneil off a top 3 or 4 spot, then Steelstown or Dungiven.

Both Slaughtneil and Glen have 5 or 6 starters over 30, and the quality isn't there in their younger players to replace some of these icons.

They will still compete for sure, but it will be rebuilding for both of them. The circle of life.

If anyone thinks differently, provide some details, not wishful thinking. Let's get some debate going.
 

The younger players slaughtneil have brought in this year havent looked a bit out of place imo. I dont think Glen got it together at all this year, theyll need some new blood for sure but i expect them to bounce back and challenge again, too many good player not too.

I do agree Lavey are next likely to push into the top 4 but youve lost me at Dungiven and Steelstown? Are you just going off age profile?

The younger players are not looking out of place in the context of it being their first year, but they are not standouts either.

Not like, Patsy,Sammy, Chrissy or Brendan were at that age. And with this batch of 30+ year old plus either retiring or losing running ability each year, it will allow other teams to close the gap. Same scenario with Glen - they don't have the younger players who will stand out coming into the team. It seems it's the fate of many great teams. I saw it happen with Lavey in the 1990s and then with Ballinderry in the 2010s.

Dungiven, who seem to have their act together, will keep improving; they do have the young players to do that. Steelstown have a good mix and Gilmore to add back in. They came very close to beating Newbridge, and that experience will add to them.

So I will say again that the top 4 next year will not be the same as this year, and someone is going to knock Glen and/or Slaughtneil off that top 4 position.

 

I wouldn't say either team are finished, yeah they might not win back to back titles next year again but will still be there at the business end next year.

I disagree. I think Newbridge and Magherafelt will be battling it out for top spot, and others will move up the pecking order. I think Lavey (based on age profile) is the most likely to move Glen/Slaughtneil off a top 3 or 4 spot, then Steelstown or Dungiven.

Both Slaughtneil and Glen have 5 or 6 starters over 30, and the quality isn't there in their younger players to replace some of these icons.

They will still compete for sure, but it will be rebuilding for both of them. The circle of life.

If anyone thinks differently, provide some details, not wishful thinking. Let's get some debate going.
 

So a key question is have we seen a passing of the guard after this weekend, is that end of one of our county's greatest ever teams, Glen and a mighty Slaughtneil team?

In my view, I don't see either team returning to their former glories for a long time. It's a young mans game, and the age profile of Newbridge and Magherafelt and underage success means that they will improve while Slaughtneil and Glen are on a slippy slope for now.

Anyone care to comment and keep this forum on track with football commentary?

Is Sean Young still under 20 ?
Odhran Campbell seemed to do well on him last night

No - he is an u21 now

Finn McEldowney
Conall Higgins
Eamonn Young
are all U20. Meenagh might have different ideas on how that should work

Anyone stand out from the weekend's football that would be a good new option for the county team?

No but I think it shows some lads need to be given more of a chance. Hopefully Div 2 will allow that.

On squad and looked good
- Cahir Mc Monagle
- Caolin Devlin
- Charlie Diamond.
- Niall O Donnell (in spells)

Not on Panel or Need them back
- Declan Cassidy -
- Sean Kearney
- Niall Mc Gonigle
- Fionn Mc Eldowney
- Cahal Mc Kaigue (Very young but special talent)

So after another game, it is worth revisiting the players suggested and see if anyone else should be added
- Niall McGonigle - didnt see anything at the weekend to merit this.
- Fionn Mc Eldowney - yes every day, only weakness is his size but rarely does this hold him back
- Cahal Mc Kaigue - on the end of a goal but hasn't stood out for me yet.

Other options to consider
- Jack Doherty - definitely at the level but doesn't seem to want to commit
- Skinners lad from Kilrea
- Patrick McMullan - Newbridge
- Conall Higgins - Mfelt
- James Murray - Mfelt
- Peter Cassidy - Bellaghy
- Ciaran Hendry - Lavey

Returning this thread after the quarter finals, I have updated the list and started with the following players as options that Ciaran Meenagh could consider. Others throw in their thoughts

- Jack Doherty - Glen
- Ruairí McGill - Lavey
- Conall Higgins - Mfelt
- James Murray - Mfelt
- Michael McEvoy - Mfelt
- Conor McAteer - Newbridge
- Eamonn Young - Newbridge
- Ruairí Ó Mianáin - Slaughtneil
- Finn McEldowney - Slaughtneil

Mostly picking younger players who can be developed.
Also need options for the keeper