Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Ryan O]

Sean Hurson is the ref on Saturday.
Ruairi Kinsella is out for Meath - ACL in training.

Kinsella is a huge loss for Meath.
Hurson doesn't really give us much.

A good ref, frustrating at times but consistent.
Lets a nice bit go but frees will be earned.

[Wildweasel74]

Ah sure if their a row he let that go lol

[Ryan O]

Ah sure if their a row he let that go lol

Free run for Chrissy to hit Jordan Morris a dunt at half time. Just make sure Hurson gets it into the match report.

[JB3456]

Its now or never for this team
If we lose i think this team needs major surgery
Knockout game v meath at home, time to show that there is still a kick in this team

[Maghera was Black]

Its now or never for this team
If we lose i think this team needs major surgery
Knockout game v meath at home, time to show that there is still a kick in this team

I agree, i was so disappointed in our players and came away from the Armagh match thinking that's the end of the road for this double Ulster winning team. I really thought there was more fight in Derry, right OK bad loss to Monaghan we dominated the game for 50mins and should have been in an Ulster final. So lets see a response lots of players that have won titles and are in their prime majority of our panel is fit lets show we can mix it with a team tipped to be All Ireland contenders in the top 2/3 in the country. We had been waiting in the long grass for 5 weeks for an Armagh team that had already humbled us 2 years in a row, yet the performance was terrible even from just looking at the body language of the players they looked like they gave in and came to the realisation that Armagh are just a better team. We are a complete shadow of the team that won Ulsters and got to 2 All Ireland Semi finals there was nothing positive in the performance that you could pin your hopes on. We either turned up and fight for our reputation now or stick the pin in this team and blood new players in 2027. Whatever happens Meenagh needs to stay, the managerial merry go round has done the county no favours. I go to Celtic Park with little confidence the players have to show the supporters they still want to be at the top and still believe in themselves.

[HonDerry]

Yep we have fallen a long way from those heady days in Croke Park against Kerry and the back-to-back Ulster titles.

To be fair, successive managers were probably right to try and get the very most out of that team while they had them. It is easy for armchair generals like ourselves to say what should have been done after the fact.

But the biggest failing for me has been not giving more meaningful game time to younger players. When you look at teams we beat us this year, there are lots of them who have younger lads in and trusted. Donegal being the case in point. We won All-Ireland minors in 2020, 2023 and 2024 so you can't say the talent wasn't there.

Sticking with the same 13 or so players, with no real consequence for poor performances, has backfired for the various managers. Even Meath who we play this weekend has several lads who played against us in the 2020 Minor All-Ireland semi-final now starting regularly. From that same group, we have only really brought through two players, with a few more only now starting to push.

All that said, I am optimistic for Saturday. I don't think we can change a huge amount tactically in the space of a couple of weeks, but Celtic Park will suit us better. The lads who didn't perform against Armagh will want to prove a point, and hopefully the bench is used earlier if changes are needed.

[oakleaflad]

MATCH SQUAD
SFC Round 2B vs. Meath
13.06.26 | 7 PM
Find Insurance Celtic Park

1. Shea McGuckin
2. Padraig McGrogan
3. Brendan Rogers
4. Conor McCluskey
5. Conor Doherty
6. Gareth McKinless
7. Eoin McEvoy
8. Conor Glass
9. Dan Higgins
10. Ethan Doherty
11. James Sargent
12. Ruairi Forbes
13. Paul Cassidy
14. Shane McGuigan
15. Lachlan Murray

16. Odhran Lynch
17. Diarmuid Baker
18. Charlie Diamond
19. Shea Downey
20. Conall Higgins
21. Sean Kearney
22. Niall Loughlin
23. Niall O'Donnell
24. Ruairí Ó Mianáin
25. Niall Toner
26. Sean Young
27. Patrick McGurk
28. James Murray
29. Ryan Mulholland
30. Matthew Downey

[OakLeaf]

That's more like it. Hopefully we'll be up for this one.

[jb77]

Lachlan in very nice. Had an inkling Sargent would start but im surprised it's at 11

[Ryan O]

Lachlan in very nice. Had an inkling Sargent would start but im surprised it's at 11

your would assume he's ear marked for the role Conor Glass was planned to do.

Hopefully free Conor up a big more to drive forward.
 

I'd be inclined to change Rogers and Mc Evoy but taking Eoin out of Midfield had to be done.

Happy they've reacted to what we all saw against Armagh.

[tbrick18]

That's a strong starting lineup, but I'm surprised that Niall L is not in the 15. He's been our most consistent forward all year. Didn't have a great game last day out, but no faulting his work ethic and he's usually reliable for scores.
Cassidy / McGuigan both lucky to start imo given recent form, hopefully they can up their performances.

What's the chances Lynch comes in from the start?
I personally think kickouts have been an issue for us so far, even though it has improved massively since last year. Lynch on form is the #1, would still be a risk to play him given how little football he's had.

Great to see Sargent in from the start.

[oakleafgael]

That team will likely not start. Expect at least one change, possibly too.

[Wildweasel74]

Sargent play Senior for Lavey yet?

[shawshank]

Don't think so.

[Ryan O]

I think he's only been fully back for about 4/5 weeks so probably never had opportunity to be released from County.