Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Silver hill]

It's difficult to try to be positive when we haven't won a competitive game in whatever number of months and games and don't appear to have tried to embrace the new rules or fundamentally change our playing style.
We still persist with lateral play and refuse to try to transition quickly when we have possession. It's completely risk averse and it looks like Meenagh's approach is basically Tally lite.
We have the athleticism to break quicker and get bodies ahead of the ball, that's a relatively easy fix. The problem is, those players are all conditioned to re cycle as soon as they gain possession. The really good teams in club and county over the past 12 months are explosive on the break and are prepared to kick forward when required. And most importantly, the inside forwards are moving in the knowledge that the ball will be kicked.

[JoG2]

1st league game missing key players, key players not sharp, Bedding in a new keeper(s) , played in swirling wind, driving rain against a top 4 team last year, with only a kick of a ball in it, it's not stroke inducing for me. I'll revisit as the league progresses, could well have a canary before the year is out right enough

[Stickittotheman]

Can't be slated for being negative when analysing something you sat and watched for 70 mins. Can't sugar coat that display, its not good enough.

For all our eternally optimistic men feel free the highlight the positives from yesterday? Both from this squad we are supposedly developing and anything thats better form last year.

Just incase anyone is in any doubt Conor Mc Ateer isn't a corner forward. Sean Young or Sean Kearney would have suited better.

Bar stuffing a rubbish Kilrea team how have Lavey managed to get 4 men onto a county team? None of which I believe are close to being strong enough to start. (Including Matthew Downey in this as he's played more Championship games for Lavey in last 3 years that St Bridgids)

Of course there were some positives. McGrogan did well at 3, McKinless will be a major player this year for us, McGuigan and Rogers got minutes into the legs football wise(both looked very rusty), we kept Meath goaless.

This was the first game, away from home against a team that made the semi finals last year beating Kerry, Galway and Dublin in the process. Some of the comments have been very disrespectful to a very good Meath team. We havent won a Championship or league game in how long and yet here people are expecting us to just roll Meath over.

[p3427977]

It's difficult to try to be positive when we haven't won a competitive game in whatever number of months

Since 2024 isn't it?

[zapped]

Can't be slated for being negative when analysing something you sat and watched for 70 mins. Can't sugar coat that display, its not good enough.

For all our eternally optimistic men feel free the highlight the positives from yesterday? Both from this squad we are supposedly developing and anything thats better form last year.

Just incase anyone is in any doubt Conor Mc Ateer isn't a corner forward. Sean Young or Sean Kearney would have suited better.

Bar stuffing a rubbish Kilrea team how have Lavey managed to get 4 men onto a county team? None of which I believe are close to being strong enough to start. (Including Matthew Downey in this as he's played more Championship games for Lavey in last 3 years that St Bridgids)

The mistake you're making (maybe intentionally?) is trying to draw conclusions on yesterday vs. an entire season in 2025. This is game 1 for an entirely new management team.

If McGuigan's shot had went into the top corner (great save from the goalie) or Baker's shot which hit the post had went over we might (maybe with the exception of you) have a completely different view of things.

Do we have a stronger panel than last year? Yes. Do we have a stronger manager than last year? Yes. Do we have a better backroom team? Yes. Are we better prepared? Yes. Do we have more favourable fixtures & championship draw? Yes. Are we blooding U20 players into the panel this year? Yes. Do we have more competent goalkeepers? Yes.

If you can't see any positives then that's ok. But, if you were being objective, things are more looking up than down.

Re: the Lavey players. Only one started yesterday (and only 1 is a regular). Can you name me any club player who are more deserving of a place on the panel than them? Let's talk specifics.

[Wildweasel74]

Mayo on penalties 2024, beat Antrim in the McKenna cup since. But it the worst run i ever remember, and that not saying alot. as we ended up in Division 4 1 time.

[Wildweasel74]

Watching the Mayo v Galway game here.No slow build ups here,both teams going mostly in straight lines not sideways and are prepared to take players on! 2 yrs ago in the league we made mince meat of Mayo.

[Ryan O]

Can't be slated for being negative when analysing something you sat and watched for 70 mins. Can't sugar coat that display, its not good enough.

For all our eternally optimistic men feel free the highlight the positives from yesterday? Both from this squad we are supposedly developing and anything thats better form last year.

Just incase anyone is in any doubt Conor Mc Ateer isn't a corner forward. Sean Young or Sean Kearney would have suited better.

Bar stuffing a rubbish Kilrea team how have Lavey managed to get 4 men onto a county team? None of which I believe are close to being strong enough to start. (Including Matthew Downey in this as he's played more Championship games for Lavey in last 3 years that St Bridgids)

The mistake you're making (maybe intentionally?) is trying to draw conclusions on yesterday vs. an entire season in 2025. This is game 1 for an entirely new management team.

If McGuigan's shot had went into the top corner (great save from the goalie) or Baker's shot which hit the post had went over we might (maybe with the exception of you) have a completely different view of things.

Do we have a stronger panel than last year? Yes. Do we have a stronger manager than last year? Yes. Do we have a better backroom team? Yes. Are we better prepared? Yes. Do we have more favourable fixtures & championship draw? Yes. Are we blooding U20 players into the panel this year? Yes. Do we have more competent goalkeepers? Yes.

If you can't see any positives then that's ok. But, if you were being objective, things are more looking up than down.

Re: the Lavey players. Only one started yesterday (and only 1 is a regular). Can you name me any club player who are more deserving of a place on the panel than them? Let's talk specifics.

I'm judging almost the same group of players off the same standards.

In regards to Management, squad, preparation and goalkeepers, what are you basing the improvements on?

Players who deserve to get ahead of 3 of them, Young, Kearney, Doherty, Devlin, Charlie Diamond, Tommy Rogers, O Mainian.

[tbrick18]

The reality is it's not as bad as some are making out - maybe including myself in that.
For all the problems we had yesterday though, we had the vast majority of our players available to us.
Some might argue others should be on the field etc, but ultimately I felt there were too many players who didn't fully commit during the game and that's what worries me more than anything else.

Now I understand, first league game of the year, new management team, some players first game back etc, but that doesn't remove the worry. We can play better, we can improve as players get more game time and we can move the ball quicker. I really hope we do. I wouldn't be calling for anyone's head though after one league loss.

I just think we have more work to do than I thought we did.
If we finish in the Sam maguire places, through what ever avenue and put a decent run in the championship we'll have made strides forward. We're capable of doing that and I still think with a bit of confidence we can put it up to anyone.

Derry v Tyrone will be an interesting game as I think there's not much between us.

[zapped]

Can't be slated for being negative when analysing something you sat and watched for 70 mins. Can't sugar coat that display, its not good enough.

For all our eternally optimistic men feel free the highlight the positives from yesterday? Both from this squad we are supposedly developing and anything thats better form last year.

Just incase anyone is in any doubt Conor Mc Ateer isn't a corner forward. Sean Young or Sean Kearney would have suited better.

Bar stuffing a rubbish Kilrea team how have Lavey managed to get 4 men onto a county team? None of which I believe are close to being strong enough to start. (Including Matthew Downey in this as he's played more Championship games for Lavey in last 3 years that St Bridgids)

The mistake you're making (maybe intentionally?) is trying to draw conclusions on yesterday vs. an entire season in 2025. This is game 1 for an entirely new management team.

If McGuigan's shot had went into the top corner (great save from the goalie) or Baker's shot which hit the post had went over we might (maybe with the exception of you) have a completely different view of things.

Do we have a stronger panel than last year? Yes. Do we have a stronger manager than last year? Yes. Do we have a better backroom team? Yes. Are we better prepared? Yes. Do we have more favourable fixtures & championship draw? Yes. Are we blooding U20 players into the panel this year? Yes. Do we have more competent goalkeepers? Yes.

If you can't see any positives then that's ok. But, if you were being objective, things are more looking up than down.

Re: the Lavey players. Only one started yesterday (and only 1 is a regular). Can you name me any club player who are more deserving of a place on the panel than them? Let's talk specifics.

I'm judging almost the same group of players off the same standards.

In regards to Management, squad, preparation and goalkeepers, what are you basing the improvements on?

Players who deserve to get ahead of 3 of them, Young, Kearney, Doherty, Devlin, Charlie Diamond, Tommy Rogers, O Mainian.

Management: Successful before. won Derry an Ulster title and got to an All Ireland semi final. Backroom team appear more competent and each have management credentials on their own. Boyle, McKaigue, McGrath have all won all Ireland competitions as managers.

Squad: Better options with men coming back from injury and the 2020 minor team are another year further down the track. We also have the U20's involved with the senior squad this year which didn't appear to be the case in 2025.

Preparation: Management team have been in place since July. We've had a pre season, trip to Portugal and given squad players a chance in the McKenna cup. None of that happened in 2025.

Goalkeepers: Scullion wasn't there in 2025. McGuckin and Regan able deputies with Lynch still injured. The goalkeeper who played in 2025 c'ship wasn't called up to the panel until the last week of March.

I don't understand your point with the Lavey players. Niall Toner and Patrick McGurk played yesterday. I presume you're not begrudging them getting game time. If you want to include MDowney, he was captain of the 2020 side and had terrible luck with injuries. Worked with Meenagh and Boyle before. I think he's worth giving a chance to, especially in the league. We'll never build a panel otherwise.

Kearney and Young played yesterday. Diamond and Ruairi O M on the bench. I'm not sure any of them deserved to play more than the 3 lads I've mentioned. Do you just have a problem with Lavey?

[Horseshoe2]

Can't be slated for being negative when analysing something you sat and watched for 70 mins. Can't sugar coat that display, its not good enough.

For all our eternally optimistic men feel free the highlight the positives from yesterday? Both from this squad we are supposedly developing and anything thats better form last year.

Just incase anyone is in any doubt Conor Mc Ateer isn't a corner forward. Sean Young or Sean Kearney would have suited better.

Bar stuffing a rubbish Kilrea team how have Lavey managed to get 4 men onto a county team? None of which I believe are close to being strong enough to start. (Including Matthew Downey in this as he's played more Championship games for Lavey in last 3 years that St Bridgids)

The mistake you're making (maybe intentionally?) is trying to draw conclusions on yesterday vs. an entire season in 2025. This is game 1 for an entirely new management team.

If McGuigan's shot had went into the top corner (great save from the goalie) or Baker's shot which hit the post had went over we might (maybe with the exception of you) have a completely different view of things.

Do we have a stronger panel than last year? Yes. Do we have a stronger manager than last year? Yes. Do we have a better backroom team? Yes. Are we better prepared? Yes. Do we have more favourable fixtures & championship draw? Yes. Are we blooding U20 players into the panel this year? Yes. Do we have more competent goalkeepers? Yes.

If you can't see any positives then that's ok. But, if you were being objective, things are more looking up than down.

Re: the Lavey players. Only one started yesterday (and only 1 is a regular). Can you name me any club player who are more deserving of a place on the panel than them? Let's talk specifics.

I'm judging almost the same group of players off the same standards.

In regards to Management, squad, preparation and goalkeepers, what are you basing the improvements on?

Players who deserve to get ahead of 3 of them, Young, Kearney, Doherty, Devlin, Charlie Diamond, Tommy Rogers, O Mainian.

So you have named lads on the panel that deserve to get ahead of others with facts. What are you actually basing it on? You say they only beat a kilrea team so lets go by your logic. What has Kearnys club done? What did Rogers do in that 20 point hammering? What has Diamonds Club done? What has Devlins Club Done? From what i see Lavey are up there challenging the top 4 clubs in Derry and could of beat 3 of them in the last 2 years. Ridiuclous take not surprising seeing all of your posts after 1 league game and its definitely the reason you're an arm chair supporter. God forbid Derry find some talented intermediate or Junior club players within the county going by your logic. Maybe its just a personal vandetta. Cool the jets. Menagh is the right man and has a super background team. Its not the end of the world if we don't get promoted. They have a good draw in Ulster.

[Ryan O]

The lavey lads soon come out previously I was accused of having a problem with Steelstown and before that with North Derry.

Newbridge have 5 men on the squad and are back to back championship winners. There is no way Patrick Mc Gurk is strong enough for inter county football and I'm basing that after watching a full championship last year.There is a place for Toner but I think the game has changed to much for him to be influential.
Individuals on the squad 100% have merit so Diamond, Devlin, Kearney argument doesn't add up. They won't make their clubs successful alone but are by far the best players on their club team.

If you've 4/5 men on the squad you have to be one of top teams in county.
Ciaran Henry is Laveys best player

[Wildweasel74]

Lavey best player McGill not there but somebody said he injured. He got the size to help round midfield. Downey been injured a long time on and off, but i feel we got to see if he can get up to the fitness because he can actually take points.i think the style of play the big talking point.I understand all this holding on to the ball against the breeze, but in the second half the forward not showing for kick passes much, and that the game these days.

[zapped]

The lavey lads soon come out previously I was accused of having a problem with Steelstown and before that with North Derry.

Newbridge have 5 men on the squad and are back to back championship winners. There is no way Patrick Mc Gurk is strong enough for inter county football and I'm basing that after watching a full championship last year.There is a place for Toner but I think the game has changed to much for him to be influential.
Individuals on the squad 100% have merit so Diamond, Devlin, Kearney argument doesn't add up. They won't make their clubs successful alone but are by far the best players on their club team.

If you've 4/5 men on the squad you have to be one of top teams in county.
Ciaran Henry is Laveys best player

Fella's name is Ciaran Hendry. Thanks for confirming, you're clueless 👍

[JoG2]

Mayo on penalties 2024, beat Antrim in the McKenna cup since. But it the worst run i ever remember, and that not saying alot. as we ended up in Division 4 1 time.

Yes, but in any of those years we didn't only play Div 1 teams in league and championship