Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[shamrocker12]

First post as a long term supporter, i was drew here to see what the thoughts are on the situation the county finds itself in. The long drawn out process can only be described as farcical at this point.

We know the board reached out to the clubs (suspiciously didn't ask the clubs after Ciaran Meenagh stepped away) with the conclusion being that Gallagher was the choice of clubs along with the leadership group of players. When news of this filtered out the press jumped on it and that's when we seem to have hit the rocks it started with Gary Coleman's article in the IN, Belfast Telegraph asking women's rights groups for their opinion, Armagh fans on social media saying they will never watch or support Derry again when on tv, social media users who have no vested interest in our county or sport in general offering their 'educated' opinion on family law and legal matters. And so the board/sponsors/club Derry seems to have came to a disagreement about rehiring Gallagher, and Keenan then broke rank and made a statement to the media that Gallagher is out of the running this was apparently done without the consent of Barker.

Dating back to before Harte was appointed Keenan had said we will be only looking for experienced inter-county managers at a high level, this was also stated by players - Glass on the podcast with Niblock. Rogers and Chrissy also stated around this time what players want a name that jumps off the page and makes you sit up and take notice. The board seem to have tried with talks of Horan, O'Rourke even Jim Gavin was mention last September before the shock news that Harte got the gig.

Roll on 12 months we are no further forward, rightly or wrongly the board had the chance to fully distance themselves from Rory over a year ago and didn't do it and then again after Harte and Horse walked and didn't do it until as i said above Keenan's one sentence statement after media got wiff of a Gallagher return. We were and are playing catch up ever since. Rory's shadow hangs long over us and that has to sit with the board they either had to stick or twist with Rory and yet they didn't really want to do one or the other. By not being decisive with Gallagher we have found ourselves now being linked to rookie coaches with no experience whatsoever of Intercounty management all what Keenan said originally back last September we wouldn't do, the players want a name that stops you in your tracks and jumps off the back pages yet now we just get linked with rookies... Irish News had Doran in the hot seat and said we should be lucky as we were nothing but a D3 team. Now Johnny McBride, Paul McFlynn, Barry Dillon, Paddy Bradley, Paul McIvor, Ronan Devlin all get the Irish News rumours treatment.

The only think we really know is the management saga needs to draw to a close soon, with around 4 weeks until inter-county training can officially resume. The direction and ambition we have for the team will be for all to see with who ever takes the reigns.

Excellent post. All of the above is exactly the same info I got. Keenan broke ranks when he publicly said RG wasn't in consideration when we know for a fact he absolutely was. He wasn't at the minor final sitting beside barker with his kids whom were wearing Derry gear for tha craic. Just wondering "maghera was black" who would you appoint?? I get the feeling the longer this draws out that the players group are holding out as late as possible to reappoint RG. I could be completely wrong.

[JohnDenver]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

[JE23]

It's not the only thing that the County Board are getting wrong.

At underage club level they are still persisting with primary school age teams being odd numbers (u7, u9, u11) while the juvinile teams are u14s etc. This has left a 3 year gap from u11 to u14 which is a nightmare for most clubs to manage. This despite all three bordering counties and LGFA having gone back to even numbers across the board. They are the type of people where, it's their way or the high way.

Never mind the state of the club senior league the last 6/7 years - I haven't seen a competitive club league game in a long time. Compare our league to Tyrone's league and the difference in intensity, quality and competitiveness is scary.

[p3427977]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

Left Louth already?

[Uncle Phil]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

Left Louth already?

Think he is "Head of Football Development" or some other dossy salaried role. So probably can take managerial jobs at club level alongside this.

[Derry Man]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

Do Glen have anyone lined up? Surely be lots of interest

[Derry Optimist]

Maybe Mickey Harte could  become manager of Glen! Then, if Magherafelt and themselves managed to get to the 2025 Derry championship final, it would be rather ironic to see Derry's last manager and coach face off against each other in a County that they left rather hurriedly shall we say!!

[marty34]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

Left Louth already?

Think he is "Head of Football Development" or some other dossy salaried role. So probably can take managerial jobs at club level alongside this.

Another lad who moves from club to club with no shame.

GAA, if they can, need to put a stop to this and say only lads from own club can manage their own club.

More fools Magherafelt.

[Derry Man]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

Left Louth already?

Think he is "Head of Football Development" or some other dossy salaried role. So probably can take managerial jobs at club level alongside this.

Another lad who moves from club to club with no shame.

GAA, if they can, need to put a stop to this and say only lads from own club can manage their own club.

More fools Magherafelt.

It's already too far gone. How many Senior Clubs in Derry had no outside men in their management team? Can't think of any

[Mikhailov]

I see that Magherafelt have appointed Gavin Devlin according Mal McMullan / Gaelic Life.

Left Louth already?

Think he is "Head of Football Development" or some other dossy salaried role. So probably can take managerial jobs at club level alongside this.

Another lad who moves from club to club with no shame.

GAA, if they can, need to put a stop to this and say only lads from own club can manage their own club.

More fools Magherafelt.

It's already too far gone. How many Senior Clubs in Derry had no outside men in their management team? Can't think of any

That is the ideal scenario but won't happen. Men will not manage their own clubs - too much internal hassle

Even Enda McGinley said this year was a 'thoroughly unpleasant experience' and he won the championship and is in league semi finals.

[GTP]

It's not the only thing that the County Board are getting wrong.

At underage club level they are still persisting with primary school age teams being odd numbers (u7, u9, u11) while the juvinile teams are u14s etc. This has left a 3 year gap from u11 to u14 which is a nightmare for most clubs to manage. This despite all three bordering counties and LGFA having gone back to even numbers across the board. They are the type of people where, it's their way or the high way.

I think it is 7.5, 9.5 and 11.5 so by school year. But would agree that under 12 should be brought back. Starting at under 14 is too big a leap for some players. And if there can be competitive football for girls at this level how much harm could it do boys.
Under 12 development league apparently went well though that is second hand info. In fairness u14 provided a lot of games for clubs with various grades and multiple teams for clubs.

[JGDoire]

Total shambles. I also would not be surprised to see RG in the hot seat in a couple of weeks.

[Wildweasel74]

Question is. Why have they got it so wrong, why are they no good managers coming to the fore, in Derry. At one stage, years ago, there was 8 Derry men  managing clubs in Tyrone. How come we cant hold on to a good U20 manager over a no of years. I leave the current man at minors, cause he doing the job at that level,which we needed for a no. of years.

[lenny]

Total shambles. I also would not be surprised to see RG in the hot seat in a couple of weeks.

He hasn't been convicted of anything, it's only a social media accusation against him. The most important job in the world has just gone to a convicted felon and rapist who secured millions of votes.

[OakleafCounty]

It's not the only thing that the County Board are getting wrong.

At underage club level they are still persisting with primary school age teams being odd numbers (u7, u9, u11) while the juvinile teams are u14s etc. This has left a 3 year gap from u11 to u14 which is a nightmare for most clubs to manage. This despite all three bordering counties and LGFA having gone back to even numbers across the board. They are the type of people where, it's their way or the high way.

I think it is 7.5, 9.5 and 11.5 so by school year. But would agree that under 12 should be brought back. Starting at under 14 is too big a leap for some players. And if there can be competitive football for girls at this level how much harm could it do boys.
Under 12 development league apparently went well though that is second hand info. In fairness u14 provided a lot of games for clubs with various grades and multiple teams for clubs.

Yes by primary school years. The County had nothing to do with the u12 thing and it seemed to be a few clubs doing it off their own bat. We knew nothing about it and would have benefited from it. The u14 worked well for the A1 section clubs with big numbers. The A2 section was supposed be nine clubs with two teams each but turned into a shambles with Swatragh and Loup only fielding one team throughout and Culmore moving to a lower league after a few games. Meaning there was only about 8 B games including championship.