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Magherafelt much the better side and will be hard to beat in the final. They are very strong defensively, power around the middle and full of running. The only thing that might trip them up is their shooting, they do make a lot of chances but they miss a good bit which keeps teams in it. I think Eoin McAvoy has been playing some stuff this championship, serious battle between him and Rogers yesterday.

On another note, I caught a bit of the junior final and I thought the lad Oran Donnelly stood out. Don't know much about him, but maybe a worth a look at u20 county level and see if he can operate at that level.

McErlain officially stepped down. Who replaces him?

I would bring back Hugh McGrath

McWilliams should be brought up in November for training in any case. Big skilled players aren't that abundant in Derry, reps against good opposition is what he needs. Might never play a role for Derry but it's worth a go.

Shame that D McDermott is out, he would was going very well in league, defending and breaking out at speed. Conleth McGrogan is another all rounder reminds me a lot of CD but he wouldn't commit last year so that's a no go. Clucky has set my standards for a corner back abit too high, as good as it gets imo

What's the deal with D McDermott, will he be back for Glen?

McEvoy has been a powerhouse, really impressed by him.

Also, I haven't seen the Martins but Ryan McEldowney is a good player.

Just a query for those supporters who have attended Derry Club games  this year. From Ciaran Meenagh's 2027 Derry County team perspective, who were the stand out players especially when you take into account those club teams which have already played two rounds in this years's Derry championships at all levels?

 There would be one caveat. There would be no point in selecting players,no matter how talented they were, if they were likely not to make themselves available to the County panel or who would be likely to disappear after a few games of the National Football League!

Could the add on to this question be who have we seen who is regularly involved for Derry who doesn't look they are at the level any more.

James Murray - Magherafelt
Cathal Mc Kaigue - Slaughtneil
Damon Gallagher - Bellaghy
Tommy Rogers - Kilrea
Oisin Mc Williams - Swatragh
Oisin Doherty - Newbridge

It will likely be boys who have been in and about Derry panels in the last couple of years. I don't think we will just find someone out of nowhere. I would try out a few of the below lads.

James Murray
Oisin McWilliams
Shane McGrogan
Donnagha Gilmore
Alex Doherty
Oisin Doherty
Johnny McGuckin
Rory Small
Eamon Young
Cahir McMonagle
Shea McCann

I expected more of Lavey. I thought they were poor for the majority of the game and then hit a barrage of 2 pointers towards the end of the game which gave Newbridge a bit of a scare.

I thought Newbridge played some good stuff and I wouldn't mind seeing Shane and Conleth McGrogan get a look with Derry next year.

Is that Patrick O'Kane, the Paddy playing midfield for Dungiven? I presume it is, that lad fair player.

Pretty sure he played midfield with Dan Higgins in an all Ireland minor winning team.

Could anyone really argue that we are any better than 14th in Ireland?

https://x.com/i/status/2083176275108139161

The only thing I would say is this lad has Meath 13th and they were hammering Mayo for a good while in that game, so there isn't a pile in it across most division 1 and 2 teams.

Plus they, Meath, gave Derry a beating in Celtic Park.

Derry never looked to be in the game in the second half.

I rate that Meath team tbh, they dominated us in Celtic park. Be interesting how they go in the next year or 2. I think they may get close.

Could anyone really argue that we are any better than 14th in Ireland?

https://x.com/i/status/2083176275108139161

The only thing I would say is this lad has Meath 13th and they were hammering Mayo for a good while in that game, so there isn't a pile in it across most division 1 and 2 teams.

Who the lad plays No.11 for Glenullin? Hes about the fastest player i seen in the league this year, goes direct and takes his man on ever time.

Skinner Bradley??

Forwards,we lack bite and heart, thats the biggest problem, look at Monaghan and Tyrone, show plenty of heart, and that take u a fair way, wouldnt beat Kerry but u be competive. On forwards, theres hardly a player who can kick 2 pters from play in the Division 1, on a steady basis or a forward who can take a man on and beat him with sheer pace.

Not sure if anyone beats Kerry but to do so you need to hit at least 25 points to have a chance. I don't think we have that type of scoring in us. Tyrone went score for score with them and the new rules encourage teams to go for it. Gone are the days where you can try and hold a team to 13 odd points and win a big game in Croke park.

I felt that Cork played similar to what we would have done and tried to run everything and they looked v one dimensional. To win in Croke park you need to mix it up, kick when it's on and go through the hands when it slows down. Until Derry get the right balance in how we play, I don't think we can really threaten the top teams in Croker. A lot of it comes down to whether we have the players, but the approach and tactics we employ also needs to evolve.

Watching big Sargent tonight I could only think if we had him, Eamon Young on a healthy knee and Oisin Doherty a lad who kicked 13 or 14 in a game recently, all playing U20 this year. That's enough talent to brute force any lack of tactics upfront I think lol

Lol there was serious players in the 20s team, a couple of injuries and brutal tactics go a long way to messing that up. What's the deal with Eamon Young, he played a couple of games earlier in the year but never looked right.

I also felt that because we won so little ball from kickouts in the first and second half, we had to do some amount of running. It felt like we were chasing the ball for long spells all day. I felt this contributed to the last 20 mins where it never felt we had another gear or the energy to up it again.

First thing, Meath looked a good side and a team who may not win it all but I wouldn't be shocked if they beat a so called top 3 team.

A few things to address. I believe Meenagh needs to stay, we need continuity and someone who can start the rebuild because that's what's needed. Changes to his backroom team and tactics are needed. He was very loyal to his senior players and I would say a good few of them let him down.

If we play man to man which I think we do going forward, we need another man marker in the full backline next year. James Murray, Small, McEldowney need games to see who can do that job.

Cleaned out at kickouts again. I think McGuckin got spooked after the early short went wrong and they should have had a goal. Watching the warmup they spent 10 mins working on short kickouts and that was abandoned early on. Getting lynch in goals will not automatically fix that. Lumping balls to midfield is a lottery at the best of times, and it seemed all the battles in the air and on the breaking ball we're going in Meaths favour. Not sure there is any other midfield options in the county other than what we have so based on that we need better plans, movement and a confident keeper who can mix it up and hit his targets.

Player wise changes are needed. We don't tear up the team sheet and start from scratch but new blood has to get proper game time now. I hope McKinless and Rogers stay about the place as their experience is still needed, but I wouldn't play them in the league bar the the last 1 or 2 games.

I think there is any number of lads who played well in underage sides who should be looked at as well as a few boys who had longer term injuries like Gilmore and McWilliams. It will be interesting who stands out in the club championship.

I would say we should be starting at least 3/4 new names at every league game and see who stands up alongside the likes of Clucky, CD, McEvoy, Forbes, Sargent, Ethan, Murray. Some of our other leaders have it seems become too comfortable in the shirt, playing badly for a stretch of games and there be no consequences. That needs to change, and if it means short term pain for a year or 2 then so be it.

Crunch time tomorrow night. No idea what to expect. Just hope we get a decent support to get behind the team. Momentum is huge and if we can get a run on them the crowd will row in behind the team and that might give them a bit of energy when it counts. Really hoping we show a bit of fight and stomach for it.