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In fairness, it took Magherafelt 36 years to reach a final even after numerous successful underage titles. They've been in 4 since 2019, albeit only winning 1 but they are knocking on the door and will be for some years to come.

Loup-Maxi Curran-is he travelling from Donegal?

Well he traveled past the turn off for Loup to go to Moneyglass last year so he knows the road!

Lives in Belfast I think

Slaughtneil - Austin O Malley
Glen - Finnian Moriarty
Magherafelt - Muldoon/Devlin...and Stephen Kernan
Newbridge - Brady/ Hetherington
Bellaghy - Damian Cassidy
Lavey - Barry O'Hagan and Shay Murrin
Dungiven - Pickles
Kilrea - Jude Donnelly
Swatragh - Seamus/ John Kearney
Glenullin - Michael O Kane
Ballinderry - James Conway?
Faughanvale -
Limavady -
Steelstown -

Should convicted murders be banned from managing?

As a rule yes.

They wouldn't pass vetting anyway

Been round many clubs in the North?

Exactly. I know 2 off the top of my head took Senior football teams having served life sentences in the kesh.

I know a few more who managed senior intercounty teams who served time in jail also 

You dont have to complete Vetting to manage Senior teams it is only when working with Juveniles.

RG was appointed Naas senior coach, not Juvenile.

Should convicted murders be banned from managing?

As a rule yes.

They wouldn't pass vetting anyway

Been round many clubs in the North?

Exactly. I know 2 off the top of my head took Senior football teams having served life sentences in the kesh.

I know a few more who managed senior intercounty teams who served time in jail also 

Are we  all talking about the same Higgins here

My thoughts are based on McKenna Cup selection and Forbes, Higgins being away from the squad in pre-season. Just think management will be risk averse in the first game and will go with what they have been able to test.
I would have no doubt both have ability to be starters for Derry, Higgins was getting better as the inter-county season went on, maybe a disappointing SFC final but could have been carrying an injury in it. And he is a big man which we need.

I heard Higgins has done ligaments in his knee and will more than likely miss the whole national league campaign

1. R Scullion
2. C McCluskey
3. P McGrogan
4. D Baker
5. C Doherty
6. G Mckinless
7. R Forbes
8. C Glass
9. B Rogers
10. E Doherty
11. Paul Cassidy
12. Dan Higgins / Jack Doherty
13. Coner Mc Ateer/ Sean Kearney
14. N Loughlin
15. L Murray

I think he has to start some of the new lads just to show the opportunities are there.

Not sure Mc Guigan will be risked if not needed, maybe last 20mins.
We definitely have an overload of really good Half backs and CD is probably the best of them but I always tempted to say he should go CHF just to see how he goes.

I'd be surprised if we see McEvoy at all on Saturday

I'd say that's not a million miles away if McEvoy isnt playing.
I also think one of the downeys will likely start in place of Forbes - only because they played in mckenna cup and Meenagh/RG used to do that.

Why was Dan Higgins not playing in any McKenna cup games?

Dan Higgins was playing for queens

He will be familiar with Cathal Murray then (new St Brigids manager) who had a fair bit of success with Ardee.

Cant see Dunloy letting OBrien go anywhere, but it will definitely take dollars to keep him.

Murtagh O'Brien is a Magherafelt man though & he might be what is needed to get them over the line next year. Although I'm sure plenty other clubs will be interested in him

Anyway...any predictions for the final?

Is the Mfelt keeper putting his hands up for county bck up. We been needing somebody to clock over 2 pointed frees. Though our last forerae into a outfield keeper in nets didn't go well!

He's their 3rd choice, great striker of the ball though

He started the past couple of years in the half forward/half back line. 2 cruciates at a young age really hampered his senior development. I believe Mfelt's keepers are both out for the year so have had to draft him in.

[We're missing our first choice keeper with no obvious backup.]

Yous Armagh lads are a good laugh I'll give yous that!
For about 3 years yous have been boasting about how strong the panel is, that yous have 2 maybe 3 first teams sitting on the bench.
You've now won an AI.
Some of the same posters would have scoffed at Derry's AI aspirations, even after 2 Ulsters and a near miss in an AISF, as we don't have the forwards or the depth and our injury crisis over the last year along with the managerial merry-go-round has backed yous up in that thinking.
Now all of a sudden, Derry are going to put it up to yous? 

Derry are still missing at least 2 of their of their best defensive players in McKinless and McCloskey with support players like Gilmore out for the year.
We're missing our first choice keeper with no obvious backup.
Glass was playing injured against Donegal last day out.
Murray, Loughlin, Rogers, McGrogan all returning from serious or long term injuries.

If Armagh don't win they may give up!

Is Lynch not fully fit & has played in the challenge games?

It says a lot for the quality of the current Derry u20 substitutes' bench when the star of the  2023 All - Ireland winning minor final team, Conall Higgins of Magherafelt, did not make the match - day squad for the recent game against Armagh.

He's injured

[C McCluskey]

Rather than dwelling  on the negative aspects of Derry's performance on Saturday  - much of it justified - let both management and players get back to what they do best. Let them prepare and plan what was said at half time in the Galway game and more importantly play as they performed in that second half against the Tribesmen.
 
Then, as Galway manager Padraic Joyce said, they dictated the middle third sector, defended brilliantly with intensity and the forward line led by the magnificent Lachlan Murray applied the finishing touches to secure a well-earned draw.

Let us  pick defenders who can defend and forwards who can score and a middle third who can defend, score and most of all dictate the possession stakes especially from kick outs. With a fully - fit squad I have no doubt that the following team will make a real impact in this year's championship.
            O Lynch
D Baker M Bradley C McCluskey is he anywhere near back to full fitness?
C Doherty E McEvoy P McGrogan
      C Glass  B Rogers
P Cassidy  C McFaul  E Doherty
N Loughlin S McGuigan  L Murray

Substitutes- A Scullion not part of panel, Mark Doherty, D Gilmore long term injury?, A Tohill, R Forbes, N Toner, C Murphy, Declan Cassidy, R McCarron,C McMonagle, N O'Donnell long term injury?

Bayern or Real in the next round

Hits the spot, park the bus away try and get over the line at home, far better than expecting to beat the likes of Lille or PSV and falling between the cracks and going out

The Champions League play-offs take place across 11/12 and 18/19 February. As the non-seeded team, Celtic will be away in the second leg.

What's McKinless fitness like? Is he carrying an injury?

Won't see him in a Derry jersey this year.

Why

yeah, why not?