Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[tbrick18]

Defensively we held our own for large parts, even with Armagh attacking at blistering pace. I do think the Armagh goal was a shot for a point, so in that regard we more or less kept a clean sheet in terms of goals if you exclude a fluke. I might be clutching there.

Our kickouts I thought were poor, high hanging balls. And I was surprised to hear a stat that we won the majority. But we certainly didn't win the breaks to the same level Armagh did or have anything like the number of turnovers Armagh forced. Any short kickouts we took left a man isolated time and again with no support - we did the same in the latter stages of the Monaghan game.

There was very little intensity from our attack outside of Murray. It looks like he was injured from 5 mins into the 2nd half and I think he was signalling he needed to come off, but they persisted with him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's unavailable the next day. We seem to always be looking for the perfect inside pass in attack and even when we were 8/9 points down, we were playing like we were ahead, holding onto the ball and waiting for an opening that rarely came as Armagh defended really well.

I think tactically, the way we are set up to attack, removes that intensity and pace from the game so I'm in two minds if our attack is stuttering due to the tactics or if its simply the players not performing. Probably a bit of both.

I remember the SF game against Kerry which Meenagh took control off, we just went for it and were a sight to behold. I feel we need to go back to that approach in attack given the way the game has evolved.
I'd agree with some of the comments on senior players performances, McGuigan really needs to pass the ball - early goal chance was almost a cert but rather than pass he took a shot and blazed wide. Armagh come up the field and score. That single play seemed to knock the stuffing out of us. McKinless was our best player I thought at the weekend, and CD in the 2nd half was very strong, but there were too many players who you would be hard pushed to have even noticed. I think we need to bring in some of those young lads with the experience of winning AI minors from the start - no baggage, no confidence issues, and will just run at who ever is in front of them. There's nothing to lose at this point and realistically, they are now what we should be building with. Young, Kearney, Sargent, Rogers - start them then bring on the experience.

I still thing Meenagh is our best option in management, but I'd have a look at the back room team. Gilligan would be brilliant addition, but hard to see why he'd leave Armagh to come to Derry at the minute. We need more ideas in our attacking structure at least, but in general I'd like to see a backroom team that are bringing something over and above Meenagh's already substantial experience - whereas with McKaigue and Heron, what they know is more of the same from 4/5 years ago. Not slating them, I just think we need a modern game team in the background with different ideas complementing Meenagh, rather than recent players who probably have similar ideas to Meenagh. The mix of ideas and skills just isnt right imo.

The players really need to stand up though. There's no excuses for flat performances or missed easy scores. No excuses for not working hard. No issue getting beat by a better team (which Armagh currently are), but it's hard to stomach getting beat when the performance is so far below where it should be. I'm sure the players are feeling that too and I've no doubt they've put in a serious effort, but they need to somehow translate that to a performance on the pitch. I think if the performances come, the fans will come regardless of results.

I'm hoping for a home game draw against someone like Dublin - I think that's what we need to force a performance and we really need a performance against a big team this year to have something to hold on to. If we cant perform for a knockout game, then it's back to the drawing board and a complete reset of tactics and players for 2027.

[Maghera was Black]

Rogers, McKinless and Clucky were the only men to get turnovers on Saturday night. Was by far Brendan's best game in 2026. The wides were criminal still in shock at what McGuigan done in the first half. Niall Loughlin has been in great form but struggled against Armagh. How has no one mentioned the disgraceful breach on the halfway line or when Paudie McGrogan was blowen up for so called over carrying. The media darling Geezer and his backroom team know to put pressure on the refs and get tight calls fair play to him he has every reporter eating out of his hands they hover around him like a bunch of school boys looking an autograph. Lets just say a McGuinness, Joyce or O'Connor wouldn't have stood back or be intimated by Geezer on the line and have let the ref and linesman know all about it.

We have a major rebuild required which needs to happen next day out. It's cliche to say but players here are being picked on reputation. We have zero competition for places. Whoever we play next - and I hope to f*#k it's somebody we can handle - we need to drop some big names. Who I'd go with

1. S McGuckin
2. D Baker
3. R Forbes
4. C McCluskey
5. C Doherty
6. E McEvoy
7. P McGrogan
8. J Sargent
9. T Rogers
10. E Young
11. N Toner
12. P Cassidy
13. N Loughlin
14. L Murray
15. S Young

Unlucky to miss out - R O'Mainain. I'm assuming M Downey is still with the squad but injured.

Based on current form I don't see how we can start Glass, McGuigan, B Rogers, McKinless or E Doherty. These lads owe us nothing but we need mobility and speed. But we will need them off the bench. We should be building a midfield around Sargent and Rogers and an attack around Lachlan.

[oakleaflad]

There was a massive difference in intent when both teams were attacking. All Armagh forwards ran hard at their men and looked like they could cause trouble. We could only really say that about Murray and Ethan Doherty, who isn't a shooter. I'd be starting Sean Young the next day as he brings this ability.

They've been off it but I don't see any chance of the likes of Glass or McGuigan being dropped as people have suggested.

[imtommygunn]

Get Glass out of CHF I would say. If he's not in midfield should be CHB.