Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Newbridge Exile]

Good to read Cahair Okanes tweet that Paudi McGrogan  made his comeback in a challenge game last weekend

[jb77]

DERRY were given a boost at the weekend when Padraig McGrogan made his playing return after a ten-month layoff following his cruciate knee ligament tear.

The Newbridge man suffered the injury on April 25 last year, five days after his county's Ulster SFC defeat by Donegal.

He missed the rest of the inter-county season and, more painfully as it turned out, his club's incredible run to a first Derry SFC title since 1989, beating then-All-Ireland champions Glen in the final.

McGrogan had become a real mainstay in the Derry defence since the beginning of Rory Gallagher's reign, growing into one of their most reliable and consistent performers.

He played 35 minutes of a challenge game against Fermanagh at the weekend as two fringe teams met, with the Oak Leafers running out comfortable winners.

Speaking after their defeat by Kerry in round two of the league, Paddy Tally said that McGrogan, Conor McCluskey and Niall Loughlin were all aiming for March returns to the team.

McGrogan's return to competitive action might be a few weeks away yet but it's a good sign for Derry, who are dealing with something of a defensive crisis.

Gareth McKinless became the latest ACL victim, suffering the tear before Ballinderry's All-Ireland intermediate campaign through which he played before succumbing to the injury. The 2023 All-Star will miss the whole 2025 campaign, with his clubmate Niall O'Donnell also out for a lengthy spell after hamstring surgery.

Conor McCluskey missed the whole club championship and underwent groin surgery in the post-season, and his recovery is still ongoing.

With the retirement of Chrissy McKaigue, it has left Tally to start his reign with just two of the starting back six from their 2023 Ulster-winning campaign namely Eoin McEvoy and Conor Doherty.

Steelstown's Donncha Gilmore played wing-back against Tyrone and Kerry in the opening two rounds of the league but he then suffered a shoulder injury on Sigerson duty with DCU three days after the Kerry game.

On Saturday evening, Derry host Galway in one of their two remaining home games knowing they realistically need a positive result if they are to claw their way out of relegation trouble.

They have Dublin, Donegal and Armagh all to play away from home, with Mayo coming to Celtic Park on St Patrick's weekend for the Oak Leafers' other home tie.

[tbrick18]

DERRY were given a boost at the weekend when Padraig McGrogan made his playing return after a ten-month layoff following his cruciate knee ligament tear.

The Newbridge man suffered the injury on April 25 last year, five days after his county's Ulster SFC defeat by Donegal.

He missed the rest of the inter-county season and, more painfully as it turned out, his club's incredible run to a first Derry SFC title since 1989, beating then-All-Ireland champions Glen in the final.

McGrogan had become a real mainstay in the Derry defence since the beginning of Rory Gallagher's reign, growing into one of their most reliable and consistent performers.

He played 35 minutes of a challenge game against Fermanagh at the weekend as two fringe teams met, with the Oak Leafers running out comfortable winners.

Speaking after their defeat by Kerry in round two of the league, Paddy Tally said that McGrogan, Conor McCluskey and Niall Loughlin were all aiming for March returns to the team.

McGrogan's return to competitive action might be a few weeks away yet but it's a good sign for Derry, who are dealing with something of a defensive crisis.

Gareth McKinless became the latest ACL victim, suffering the tear before Ballinderry's All-Ireland intermediate campaign through which he played before succumbing to the injury. The 2023 All-Star will miss the whole 2025 campaign, with his clubmate Niall O'Donnell also out for a lengthy spell after hamstring surgery.

Conor McCluskey missed the whole club championship and underwent groin surgery in the post-season, and his recovery is still ongoing.

With the retirement of Chrissy McKaigue, it has left Tally to start his reign with just two of the starting back six from their 2023 Ulster-winning campaign namely Eoin McEvoy and Conor Doherty.

Steelstown's Donncha Gilmore played wing-back against Tyrone and Kerry in the opening two rounds of the league but he then suffered a shoulder injury on Sigerson duty with DCU three days after the Kerry game.

On Saturday evening, Derry host Galway in one of their two remaining home games knowing they realistically need a positive result if they are to claw their way out of relegation trouble.

They have Dublin, Donegal and Armagh all to play away from home, with Mayo coming to Celtic Park on St Patrick's weekend for the Oak Leafers' other home tie.

Great to hear that McGrogan on the way back, but he'll need time to get back to his best. Mad to think we only have 2 of the back 6 available from our Ulster winning side. Always going to be a struggle in those circumstances and then add the new rules.
 

[Mario]

Up against it now but it could easily have been 2 wins even with the injuries. The mess up of not appointing Tally to very late in the Day gave Tyrone a clear advantage in preparations. Even at that I thought we were going to win that game with 10 min to go. And we all know about the Kerry game.

Galway will be tough, it's basically a full strength Galway side. A bit of a reversal on the same fixture last year. If we lose we'll prob be relegated and if we win we could prob still make a league final.

[statto]

Up against it now but it could easily have been 2 wins even with the injuries. The mess up of not appointing Tally to very late in the Day gave Tyrone a clear advantage in preparations. Even at that I thought we were going to win that game with 10 min to go. And we all know about the Kerry game.

Galway will be tough, it's basically a full strength Galway side. A bit of a reversal on the same fixture last year. If we lose we'll prob be relegated and if we win we could prob still make a league final.

Given the injuries and squad depth Derry have struggle to see them making a league final especially after losing first two games. 

[tbrick18]

Up against it now but it could easily have been 2 wins even with the injuries. The mess up of not appointing Tally to very late in the Day gave Tyrone a clear advantage in preparations. Even at that I thought we were going to win that game with 10 min to go. And we all know about the Kerry game.

Galway will be tough, it's basically a full strength Galway side. A bit of a reversal on the same fixture last year. If we lose we'll prob be relegated and if we win we could prob still make a league final.

Given the injuries and squad depth Derry have struggle to see them making a league final especially after losing first two games. 

Agreed.
I think if we can manage to stay up it will be a massive achievement.

[statto]

Up against it now but it could easily have been 2 wins even with the injuries. The mess up of not appointing Tally to very late in the Day gave Tyrone a clear advantage in preparations. Even at that I thought we were going to win that game with 10 min to go. And we all know about the Kerry game.

Galway will be tough, it's basically a full strength Galway side. A bit of a reversal on the same fixture last year. If we lose we'll prob be relegated and if we win we could prob still make a league final.

Given the injuries and squad depth Derry have struggle to see them making a league final especially after losing first two games. 

Agreed.
I think if we can manage to stay up it will be a massive achievement.

I think they would be delighted with that especially given how late Tally was to the party. They could do without a league final too given in preliminary round of Ulster and the fact they play Donegal. 

[Mario]

I'm not expecting us to make a league final if we win. I just mean it would still be a possibility given how tight the league will be

[JoG2]

Making a league final had nothing to do what happened in the 2nd half of the season.

Highly doubt we'll make it, but it sure would help with giving 4 or 5 key men an extra game before championship. I'd be shocked if we don't beat Donegal (in April) tbh

[statto]

League final is the Sunday before the Donegal game

Making a league final had nothing to do what happened in the 2nd half of the season.

Highly doubt we'll make it, but it sure would help with giving 4 or 5 key men an extra game before championship. I'd be shocked if we don't beat Donegal (in April) tbh

What is your rationale for being so confident of beating Donegal? Do you not think Harte playing his best team week in week out last year had an impact on energy levels/player availability later in the year?

I thought Derry were going to be serious serious contenders after the league final last year. 

[Ryan O]

League final is the Sunday before the Donegal game

Making a league final had nothing to do what happened in the 2nd half of the season.

Highly doubt we'll make it, but it sure would help with giving 4 or 5 key men an extra game before championship. I'd be shocked if we don't beat Donegal (in April) tbh

What is your rationale for being so confident of beating Donegal? Do you not think Harte playing his best team week in week out last year had an impact on energy levels/player availability later in the year?

I thought Derry were going to be serious serious contenders after the league final last year. 

Definitely had an impact, I noticed a real drop off in quality in particular from couple of Glen lads who didn't get a break at all. Rushing off to a training camp with only a 3 week window was madness. To go from a league winning high to try and push the lads to step up to another level was unrealistic.

Donegal played put of their skins that day we were shocking and got beat by 6. They scored 15 times to Derrys 17. Yes goals killed us but we missed a couple good goal chances. Theres no massive gap to be closed. Jimmy's doing what he done before, thriving off the hype getting them bought in push them to absolute limit for 3 maybe 4 years and disappear again.

[jb77]

[JoG2]

League final is the Sunday before the Donegal game

Making a league final had nothing to do what happened in the 2nd half of the season.

Highly doubt we'll make it, but it sure would help with giving 4 or 5 key men an extra game before championship. I'd be shocked if we don't beat Donegal (in April) tbh

What is your rationale for being so confident of beating Donegal? Do you not think Harte playing his best team week in week out last year had an impact on energy levels/player availability later in the year?

I thought Derry were going to be serious serious contenders after the league final last year. 

Definitely had an impact, I noticed a real drop off in quality in particular from couple of Glen lads who didn't get a break at all. Rushing off to a training camp with only a 3 week window was madness. To go from a league winning high to try and push the lads to step up to another level was unrealistic.

Donegal played put of their skins that day we were shocking and got beat by 6. They scored 15 times to Derrys 17. Yes goals killed us but we missed a couple good goal chances. Theres no massive gap to be closed. Jimmy's doing what he done before, thriving off the hype getting them bought in push them to absolute limit for 3 maybe 4 years and disappear again.

First paragraph, the Glen men shouldn't have played in Tralee, prob everyone agrees. But they all did get rest during the league. The drop off in play was only seen post Portugal. That 1st half in Celtic Pk in the Donegal game, it was clear as day there was something up. Zero zip, minimum support runs etc...but this is old ground

We're a better team than Donegal, it's as simple as that. The fact our wheels came off after that training camp won't change that this year .

[Ghost]

McNicholl didn't look like anything close to a goal keeper for that Galway goal. Not saying Lynch would have saved it but he'd have made himself big and made it difficult for the Galway man whereas mcnicholl just dived out of the way for him.

McNicholl might add a bit going the other way but he'll have to improve in the shot stopping department.

[themania1]

McNicholl didn't look like anything close to a goal keeper for that Galway goal. Not saying Lynch would have saved it but he'd have made himself big and made it difficult for the Galway man whereas mcnicholl just dived out of the way for him.

McNicholl might add a bit going the other way but he'll have to improve in the shot stopping department.

We'l be going nowhere with Tohill in the middle and Baker getting exposed with these new rules thats for sure