Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Derry Man]

I seen enough last night to be optimistic about the season ahead, McKinless is a huge addition and suits the new game down to the ground, Murray will be a huge weapon if he can stay available & thought Conor McAteer looked really bright & gives us a different option from Murray & Shane. Does anyone know if Scullion was injured as he wasn't named in the squad?

[p3427977]

Meenagh did mention sickness in the squad in the post march interview if I hear correctly.

[tbrick18]

I seen enough last night to be optimistic about the season ahead, McKinless is a huge addition and suits the new game down to the ground, Murray will be a huge weapon if he can stay available & thought Conor McAteer looked really bright & gives us a different option from Murray & Shane. Does anyone know if Scullion was injured as he wasn't named in the squad?

Agree with all of that.
We're in a much stronger position than this time last year and I'm confident we'll do much better than last year.

As much as I think Mcguckin didn't have a great game, it was the right thing to test him. We know what Lynch and Scullion will bring, but ti use last year as the exampl, 2 keepers is not enough i. there's of cover.
Mcguckin will learn a lot from last night.

Last year Murray and Loughlin were never fully fit.
No Clucky or mckinless and mcgrogan just returning from long term injury.
All of those lads now seem to be fit and available and along with new blood, I'm hopeful for the year ahead.

[Goals_Will_Come]

I seen enough last night to be optimistic about the season ahead, McKinless is a huge addition and suits the new game down to the ground, Murray will be a huge weapon if he can stay available & thought Conor McAteer looked really bright & gives us a different option from Murray & Shane. Does anyone know if Scullion was injured as he wasn't named in the squad?

Agree with all of that.
We're in a much stronger position than this time last year and I'm confident we'll do much better than last year.

As much as I think Mcguckin didn't have a great game, it was the right thing to test him. We know what Lynch and Scullion will bring, but ti use last year as the exampl, 2 keepers is not enough i. there's of cover.
Mcguckin will learn a lot from last night.

Last year Murray and Loughlin were never fully fit.
No Clucky or mckinless and mcgrogan just returning from long term injury.
All of those lads now seem to be fit and available and along with new blood, I'm hopeful for the year ahead.

Anything less than an Ulster Final has to be viewed as a disappointing return.

[Ryan O]

I seen enough last night to be optimistic about the season ahead, McKinless is a huge addition and suits the new game down to the ground, Murray will be a huge weapon if he can stay available & thought Conor McAteer looked really bright & gives us a different option from Murray & Shane. Does anyone know if Scullion was injured as he wasn't named in the squad?

Agree with all of that.
We're in a much stronger position than this time last year and I'm confident we'll do much better than last year.

As much as I think Mcguckin didn't have a great game, it was the right thing to test him. We know what Lynch and Scullion will bring, but ti use last year as the exampl, 2 keepers is not enough i. there's of cover.
Mcguckin will learn a lot from last night.

Last year Murray and Loughlin were never fully fit.
No Clucky or mckinless and mcgrogan just returning from long term injury.
All of those lads now seem to be fit and available and along with new blood, I'm hopeful for the year ahead.

Anything less than an Ulster Final has to be viewed as a disappointing return.

Don't agree with that, we won 2 Ulsters great days ticked the box and no AI.

Realistically with new qualification system its of no benefit winning Ulster and it's almost unheard of to go through a season unbeaten.

Monaghan experimental team last night shows they will be no pushovers, Donegal are in the top 5 in country and I fully expect Antrim to have a go. Thats takes a massive relentless shift to pass all that and come out unscathed.
(Making assumption Donegal make the final, think Tyrone won't be far away)

Only target has to be promotion and to still be playing football in July. Don't care what route we take to get there but just be there.

Ciaran Meenagh was there before but its still his first year back, new players, new coaches and new systems. lets not load up the pressure.

[lenny]

Shea taking a lot of criticism here but I actually thought he had a very solid game. He made 2 mistakes with short kickouts and they were punished but that's the way Derry are going to play and no matter who's in goals we'll be conceding a few of those through the season. We don't have the really big men of 6 feet 5 or 6 who we can bomb the ball out to all the time. We didn't win any games at all last season under the new rules and a good bit can be put down to a change in management but also the new rules regarding kickouts really don't suit us especially when a team gets a squeeze on. Even a team as big and physical as Armagh got hammered v Kerry last year when they didn't win a kickout for 20 minutes. We'll improve with big Dan and Rogers back but we're still small compared to a few of the top teams.

[Wildweasel74]

Donegal put on 9 subs, we put on 5, should been good chance to run a few more.

[jb77]

Meenagh metioned illness limiting his options, thought Marty Bradley would have gotten a run out over the two games

[Wildweasel74]

These days football near a big 4 or 6 in round the middle 8, Glass went up for a ball last night with 2 Donegal men and 3 below him, dont know why our other men we so badly placed.. That why i feel we need McAvoy out in the half back line and keep with McGrogan full back at the minute, and look at 1 of Higgins. Glass, Rodgers in the Half forward line and the other 2 in midfield. T Rodgers will be Derrys future midfielder but plenty filling out to do.

[marty34]

I wouldn't worry about an Ulster title too much. Get playing as late in the summer as possible would be my objective.

I think the biggest addition this year in Mc Kinless. Hopefully he can stay fit.  But his driving runs, game brain and abrasive nature will be a boost for Derry this year.

[93-DY-SAM]

I wouldn't worry about an Ulster title too much. Get playing as late in the summer as possible would be my objective.

I think the biggest addition this year in Mc Kinless. Hopefully he can stay fit.  But his driving runs, game brain and abrasive nature will be a boost for Derry this year.

+1

We need a good competitive season to build things this year, seeing games out with no silly mistakes and keeping all games as tight as possible. Do that and we'll have something solid to build on in the following year or two. Winning Ulster is not the be all and end all.

Just because Ciaran has been there before doesn't mean everything will fall into place straight away but hopefully it speeds the process up a bit.

[themania]

I seen enough last night to be optimistic about the season ahead, McKinless is a huge addition and suits the new game down to the ground, Murray will be a huge weapon if he can stay available & thought Conor McAteer looked really bright & gives us a different option from Murray & Shane. Does anyone know if Scullion was injured as he wasn't named in the squad?

Agree with all of that.
We're in a much stronger position than this time last year and I'm confident we'll do much better than last year.

As much as I think Mcguckin didn't have a great game, it was the right thing to test him. We know what Lynch and Scullion will bring, but ti use last year as the exampl, 2 keepers is not enough i. there's of cover.
Mcguckin will learn a lot from last night.

Last year Murray and Loughlin were never fully fit.
No Clucky or mckinless and mcgrogan just returning from long term injury.
All of those lads now seem to be fit and available and along with new blood, I'm hopeful for the year ahead.

Anything less than an Ulster Final has to be viewed as a disappointing return.

Don't agree with that, we won 2 Ulsters great days ticked the box and no AI.

Realistically with new qualification system its of no benefit winning Ulster and it's almost unheard of to go through a season unbeaten.

Monaghan experimental team last night shows they will be no pushovers, Donegal are in the top 5 in country and I fully expect Antrim to have a go. Thats takes a massive relentless shift to pass all that and come out unscathed.
(Making assumption Donegal make the final, think Tyrone won't be far away)

Only target has to be promotion and to still be playing football in July. Don't care what route we take to get there but just be there.

Ciaran Meenagh was there before but its still his first year back, new players, new coaches and new systems. lets not load up the pressure.

Have you looked at the new format for this year?
The eight Provincial Champions and Runners-Up shall be drawn to play at Home against the next 8 highest-ranked teams at the conclusion of the National League.

It is a definitely a benefit making the Ulster Final in the new format. The reward is a home fixture in a crucial Round 1 game, win that game and your in Round 2A where if you win that your straight into the Quarter Final.

If we didnt make the Ulster Final, we would be drawn away in Round 1. If we lose that you have to win every game from that point on.

[Keyser soze]

Donegal put on 9 subs, we put on 5, should been good chance to run a few more.

I think it's pointless making that many changes during a game as it is so disruptive that it isn't giving the subs a proper chance. Best to give some meaningful game time to newbies within a framework of experienced players so that they get a proper chance to show what they can do. 

[HonDerry]

These days football near a big 4 or 6 in round the middle 8, Glass went up for a ball last night with 2 Donegal men and 3 below him, dont know why our other men we so badly placed.. That why i feel we need McAvoy out in the half back line and keep with McGrogan full back at the minute, and look at 1 of Higgins. Glass, Rodgers in the Half forward line and the other 2 in midfield. Rodgers will be Derrys future midfielder but plenty filling out to do.

Agreed with McEvoy in half back and McGrogan full back. McEvoy much better in half back line.
Agreed with that midfield/half forward line up

I'd be cautious about predicting U20s into holding down future positions in the team.

That jump isn't just about talent. It means committing to the physical work needed to be in top condition, accepting the lifestyle sacrifices around social and relationship life, finding work that allows the flexibility senior county football needs, and having strong family support to help with the inevitable setbacks.

Ability gets you noticed, but it's the commitment and support around the player that decides who makes it at senior level. Only time tells that.

[Brendan]

Cahir McMonagle playing soccer for Institute, has he went there because he was dropped from the county panel or is it the other way about?