Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[HonDerry]

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

[Ryan O]

Personally I think Forbes starts most games next year, thought he had a really good year last year and was impressive for Ballinderry.
For our back 6 options I think we have CD, Clucky, Mc Kinless, Mc Grogan, Mc Evoy, Bradley, Baker, Forbes and potentially Rogers.
Fionn Mc Eldownney will be there I would assume and will be pushing hard to get a start.

Its a selection problem but a good one.

[smort]

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

[Topmarks]

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

[HonDerry]

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

[HonDerry]

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.

[LoughNeagh]

Glen PRO winning MacNamee Award for their book. Well done 👏🏼

[Real Talk]

I saw Ryan McNichol and Tom Rogers playing for Derry U20's both were excellent also say Ryan playing in the County Final for Glenullin also had a good game ( all be it at Intermediate level !)

To get more out of Shane McGuigin then he should be playing in a Half Back type role where he wouldn't be as tightly marked and he is also very good at getting ' break ball'and accurate with his passing .

In general playing in Div 2 should give the Management a bit more latitude to try out new players and different tactics

[Stickittotheman]

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.

Rogers surely has a few more years in midfield at least. He is a serious athlete- look at Conroy for an example. With Clucky and McKinless returning it gives a real boost. How good McKinless will be is open to debate after two serious injuries. Maybe better to be used as an impact sub. I was thinking maybe Higgins would be used at centre forward? Can help on in midfield and be a target if we need to go long? Also a goal threat. Might need McFaul to fall back into centre half back in this scenario?

As far as our first 8 outfield players go we are really strong.

Clucky, McEvoy, Baker, C, Doherty, McKinless/McFaul, McGrogan Glass, Rogers. I think that is as strong as anyone else in the country. Add in Bradley, Forbes, Gilmore and one or two others we look well stocked. Need to sort the keeper out to be in contention though. Hopefully Scullion commits, the opportunity is there to make the jersey his long term.

If Murray can push on and maybe someone else can emerge, Young had a great Championship as did McMonagle then we have a chance of a great year.

[Brendan]

Slaughtneil camogs well beaten by Loughiel, is Derry Camogie already suffering from the rise of women's football in the county?

[ck]

There's a couple of St Bridgids men on the panel.

I thought Charlie had good championship lacked some help for Bellaghy but definitely looked like good forward.

Hard to justify Anton Tohill being there played one game since Derry season ended although he is a serious athlete.

Does Ryan Mc Nicholl from Glenullin deserve a chance?

Yes both Matthew and Shae Downey back on the panel. Heard that bridges were starting to be built with them and Lavey. Path being created for their rightful return.

[Wildweasel74]

The Matthew Lad didn't play with St Brigids, presume he was injured.

[toby47]

There's a couple of St Bridgids men on the panel.

I thought Charlie had good championship lacked some help for Bellaghy but definitely looked like good forward.

Hard to justify Anton Tohill being there played one game since Derry season ended although he is a serious athlete.

Does Ryan Mc Nicholl from Glenullin deserve a chance?

Yes both Matthew and Shae Downey back on the panel. Heard that bridges were starting to be built with them and Lavey. Path being created for their rightful return.

Heard a similar rumour at the weekend that the Downey's could be back at Lavey at some stage. Thought it would be impossible to come back from.

[RY93]

Any word on any of the national league fixtures yet? I've read that all counties have received a provisional list and I've seen a few other counties provisional schedules.

[ck]

There's a couple of St Bridgids men on the panel.

I thought Charlie had good championship lacked some help for Bellaghy but definitely looked like good forward.

Hard to justify Anton Tohill being there played one game since Derry season ended although he is a serious athlete.

Does Ryan Mc Nicholl from Glenullin deserve a chance?

Yes both Matthew and Shae Downey back on the panel. Heard that bridges were starting to be built with them and Lavey. Path being created for their rightful return.

Heard a similar rumour at the weekend that the Downey's could be back at Lavey at some stage. Thought it would be impossible to come back from.

Lavey are not far away from a Derry C/ship. If Downeys return that would push them into a very healthy position.