Derry Club Football & Hurling original

Derry Optimist · May 04, 2026, 06:05:46 PM

To possibly pacify my good friend "Screenexiles" indignation, may I clarify that I always agreed with the introduction of the two pointer system to encourage long distance scoring from open play but I disagree with it for a free outside the arc. I think that it is too severe a penalty when the reward for a goal is still only three points(and Derry got three of them on Saturday after great combination play by several players). We do not want our games to be decided exclusively by two pointers from frees.

Wildweasel74 · May 04, 2026, 06:55:59 PM

The point of the 2pters is, it can keep a bad team in it. Under the old scoring system a team couldnt come back from that half time score without a few goals. Monaghan a poor team compared to the other division 1 teams,and Armagh will drill that home in the final. We should been clocking 10+pts on them and we just stopped. Showed alot bite in extra time but allowed Monaghan to get their tails up. McGuigan going for a pt on a 4 v 2 was a bad call and a goal would killed that game there,and then for about the 3rd time.

screenexile · May 04, 2026, 07:23:04 PM

Quote from: Derry Optimist on May 04, 2026, 06:05:46 PMTo possibly pacify my good friend "Screenexiles" indignation, may I clarify that I always agreed with the introduction of the two pointer system to encourage long distance scoring from open play but I disagree with it for a free outside the arc. I think that it is too severe a penalty when the reward for a goal is still only three points(and Derry got three of them on Saturday after great combination play by several players). We do not want our games to be decided exclusively by two pointers from frees.

I agree the 2 pointer shouldn't be for free kicks or sidelines but it's hard to argue it was a phenomenal way for a game to end the other night even if it did t go in our favour.

The 2 point system is not unfair it's the same for both teams. We had loads of ways of coping with it either score more ourselves, defend against theirs better or stop giving the ball away cheaply... we failed miserably on all 3 of those points!

tbrick18 · May 04, 2026, 09:02:38 PM

Well that was a sickener, a game we would have won with a bit of composure. I did say earlier in the week I thought it would likely be a coin toss, but hoped we'd sneak it by 3. At half time and 10 up I was still thinking we weren't home and dry, but with about 20 to go and we went 10 up again I started to think we were going to be able to hold on.
Credit to monaghan, their tweak of tactics worked for them and they just went for 2 pointers every half chance. we were still solid at the back so they were forced to go for twos, and I'd say on another day they miss half of those and we still win. Beggan is so good. And that sideline to draw was exceptional, though when I saw the replay I thought ethan should have had a free out.

I thought we actually played well in general, but some individual mistakes cost us.
Shane scored a bagful, but I think he slowed down our attack time and again. he'd win a ball, man coming off his shoulder and rather than lay it off he'd carry it out to the arc for a slowed down easy pass. Murray seemed frustrated at that.
Murray was always a threat, but missed a few he should have scored.
Nial L was by far our best player, has been all year. Works so hard and can take a score.
Someone said our kickouts were excellent, I thought they were just ok. Too slow and cost us 1-2 from mistakes. WmHe did make an excellent save.
Glass and Rogers were below their normal level unfortunately, but I thought our half back line were very strong. Paul cassidy was disappointing without doing much wrong, just didn't impose himself on the game.
And I wouldn't blame Baker for the free at the end, he had a solid game and for me its a 50-50 free. The real problem was we didn't stop the ball at the other end of the field with 30 seconds to go. Again composure. We are still a bit fragile in terms of confidence after last year I think.

Im surprised we didn't use the bench better. Left it too late, a sub or two at 50 mins might have stopped the momentum shift. Tactically we were very well set up for the start, but the effectiveness wore off as monaghan adapted, and we didn't seem to change our approach to counter that.

Horrible way to lose a game.
Confirms my dislike of 2 pointers, dont think they bring anything to a game other than to devalue a goal. It makes 2 point kickers more important than full backs, or full forwards, devaluing those positions. Under old rules, all player positions were of equal importance and that seems to have changed. Who says goals wins games....not any more.

I hope monaghan win ulster now, but they'll be up against it.

we now have time to regroup, prep for armagh as underdogs and work on defending the 2 pointers as well as the goals. I wouldn't be confident of winning, but I also wouldn't be surprised if we did.

Interstellar · May 04, 2026, 10:03:32 PM

https://www.gaa.ie/article/teams-that-kick-most-two-pointers-likely-to-lead-the-way-in-football-championship

Derry are also allowed to kick 2 pointers as well as the opposition but don't seem to want to. Having said that they are average when it comes to numbers of 2 pointers scored in the season. We don't seem to have a long range free taker. Mcguigan misses too many.

jb77 · May 05, 2026, 10:58:45 AM

What do we make of Rory Gallaghers scathing review of things

p3427977 · May 05, 2026, 11:25:35 AM

Quote from: jb77 on May 05, 2026, 10:58:45 AMWhat do we make of Rory Gallaghers scathing review of things

I think he's enjoying it.

scout · May 05, 2026, 11:25:52 AM

He has some opinion of himself does RG. Putting up videos slating other managers tactics etc. this man has won 1 Ulster title, his 2 AL QFs were against cork & Clare (2 hurling counties in the main).

Terry Hyland has the same achievement, give or take. Don't see him online embarassing himself.

Brendan · May 05, 2026, 11:30:58 AM

Hes definitely going in harder on all things Derry than he is others

the goal was on · May 05, 2026, 11:41:51 AM

Was biggin up Derry management for months but was just waiting his chance. Think this tell you all about the man. His predictions for a man of apparently supreme knowledge have been a disaster too!

quit yo jibbajabba · May 05, 2026, 11:49:15 AM

Open up the comments Rory, let a few people tell you what they think of you 🤓

MidUlsterObserver · May 05, 2026, 11:50:05 AM

Why are people watching him?

thebuzz · May 05, 2026, 11:52:16 AM

Quote from: Derry Optimist on May 04, 2026, 06:05:46 PMTo possibly pacify my good friend "Screenexiles" indignation, may I clarify that I always agreed with the introduction of the two pointer system to encourage long distance scoring from open play but I disagree with it for a free outside the arc. I think that it is too severe a penalty when the reward for a goal is still only three points(and Derry got three of them on Saturday after great combination play by several players). We do not want our games to be decided exclusively by two pointers from frees.

Maybe I had my red and white tinted glasses on but I thought the frees for Monaghan's first two pointers in the second half were extremely soft. Did no one else think that was the case?

toby47 · May 05, 2026, 11:58:39 AM

Quote from: jb77 on May 05, 2026, 10:58:45 AMWhat do we make of Rory Gallaghers scathing review of things

I can't work out his reason for running that Instagram page?

Horrendous predictions by him, as someone above noted

CookieMonster · May 05, 2026, 01:32:49 PM

Quote from: toby47 on May 05, 2026, 11:58:39 AM
Quote from: jb77 on May 05, 2026, 10:58:45 AMWhat do we make of Rory Gallaghers scathing review of things

I can't work out his reason for running that Instagram page?

Horrendous predictions by him, as someone above noted

Attention most likely and trying to stay relevant. Can't imagine those players will take kindly to being called soft. I think that's the bridge well and truly burnt now.