Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Stickittotheman]

I don't know why he's saying a rebuild, there was a strong enough team there. It was strengthening it. I like to know what our attacking tactic is, foreby getting it to Shane McGuigan. Why was Ruane not picked up after scoring a few points. He made it to 6 and still not tagged. It's his zonal marking mindset that beats me. Only Galway really use that.

A rebuild of a team that were league champions and AI Quarter finalists? Sounds like someone making excuses. You can make a case that it is difficult without key players but that has been an issue for a while- very limited depth in the squad. Tally was supposed to be a defensive guru. I have never seen us so porous at the back. Teams just walk through us.

I also thought Tally declaring this year a 'scrub year' sets the tone. Players thinking well the league probably cost us longer term last year and Tally isn't too bothered either way. We need a massive improvement in 3 weeks to just avoid a doing.

I honestly couldn't care less about the Donegal game. It has to be all about getting the squad fit and ready for the Sam Maguire.

The Provincials feed into Sam particularly with the seedings. Beat by Donegal we are 3rd seeds. That has the potential to have a serious effect in the group stages. Pretty deflating to be Ulster Champions two years in a row, League champions last year, Quarter finalists and semi finalists all over the past 3 years and be a bit rudderless at the minute.

[Ball]

Derry: Odhran Lynch (inj); Conor McCluskey (inj), Chrissy McKaigue (ret), Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty (0-01), Eoin McEvoy (2-02), Pádraig McGrogan; Conor Glass (0-02, 1 '45'), Brendan Rogers (inj) (0-01); Ethan Doherty (0-01), Ciaran McFaul (inj) Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin (0-02), Shane McGuigan (1-04, 1-00 pen, 0-02f), Lachlan Murray (inj)(0-03, 1m).

Subs: Gareth McKinless (inj) for McGrogan (ht), Niall Toner (0-02) for McKinless (52), Cormac Murphy for Loughlin (66), Donncha Gilmore (inj) for P Cassidy (70), Emmett Bradley (ret)for Murray (77), Declan Cassidy for McKaigue (81), Eunan Mulholland for C Doherty (88).

That's the squad that played against Dublin in last years League Final. By my count: 7 out injured now (3 of which won't be seen in Derry colours again this season); 2 are now retired from county duty; And add in that Murphy, McGrogan and Laughlin have been out with long term injuries.

Eunan mulholland doesnt seem to be on the panel this year either. As well as last years sub keeper Ryan Scullion.

Realistically Tally like Harte will be judged at the end of the season. The difference in their seasons could depend on not getting another hammering by donegal.

[roadsidefox]

Derry: Odhran Lynch (inj); Conor McCluskey (inj), Chrissy McKaigue (ret), Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty (0-01), Eoin McEvoy (2-02), Pádraig McGrogan; Conor Glass (0-02, 1 '45'), Brendan Rogers (inj) (0-01); Ethan Doherty (0-01), Ciaran McFaul (inj) Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin (0-02), Shane McGuigan (1-04, 1-00 pen, 0-02f), Lachlan Murray (inj)(0-03, 1m).

Subs: Gareth McKinless (inj) for McGrogan (ht), Niall Toner (0-02) for McKinless (52), Cormac Murphy for Loughlin (66), Donncha Gilmore (inj) for P Cassidy (70), Emmett Bradley (ret)for Murray (77), Declan Cassidy for McKaigue (81), Eunan Mulholland for C Doherty (88).

That's the squad that played against Dublin in last years League Final. By my count: 7 out injured now (3 of which won't be seen in Derry colours again this season); 2 are now retired from county duty; And add in that Murphy, McGrogan and Laughlin have been out with long term injuries.

Eunan mulholland doesnt seem to be on the panel this year either. As well as last years sub keeper Ryan Scullion.

Realistically Tally like Harte will be judged at the end of the season. The difference in their seasons could depend on not getting another hammering by donegal.

Was chatting to somebody here in Sydney recently who said Scullion was planning on travelling this year & declared himself unavailable.

Eunan left the squad, as well as Conleth McGuckin.

[Brendan]

Can't believe we're talking about another manager, would be 4 managers in 3 years (counting Meenagh)

Alot has went against Tally with the late appointment, injuries and drop outs but he hasn't stooped to Hartes level of stubbornness and blaming the players. And look at the few potential gems he has unearthed by just giving them a chance, even though they may not have got those chances if it wasn't for the injury crisis.

The main reason I want to hang onto him is I can't go through another dilemma like we did with his and Hartes appointment only for it to be inevitably disappointing again

[onefineday]

I don't know why he's saying a rebuild, there was a strong enough team there. It was strengthening it. I like to know what our attacking tactic is, foreby getting it to Shane McGuigan. Why was Ruane not picked up after scoring a few points. He made it to 6 and still not tagged. It's his zonal marking mindset that beats me. Only Galway really use that.

A rebuild of a team that were league champions and AI Quarter finalists? Sounds like someone making excuses. You can make a case that it is difficult without key players but that has been an issue for a while- very limited depth in the squad. Tally was supposed to be a defensive guru. I have never seen us so porous at the back. Teams just walk through us.

I also thought Tally declaring this year a 'scrub year' sets the tone. Players thinking well the league probably cost us longer term last year and Tally isn't too bothered either way. We need a massive improvement in 3 weeks to just avoid a doing.

I honestly couldn't care less about the Donegal game. It has to be all about getting the squad fit and ready for the Sam Maguire.

The Provincials feed into Sam particularly with the seedings. Beat by Donegal we are 3rd seeds. That has the potential to have a serious effect in the group stages. Pretty deflating to be Ulster Champions two years in a row, League champions last year, Quarter finalists and semi finalists all over the past 3 years and be a bit rudderless at the minute.

Given that 1st and 2nd seeds are based on being provincial finalists, it often makes sense to be a third seed as your odds of getting a weaker 2nd seed are higher.
With this year's structure, provincial success is largely irrelevant imo, might be good confidence wise, but it could be coming too early for us in terms of injury recovery. If we can avoid a hiding, regroup and get a good block of work to have a go at the all Ireland series, that might be best we can hope for this year.

[Ryan O]

Worst case scenario is Donegal beat Derry, they then have about 4/5 weeks off, move into a group stage where they have to win 1 game to get to AL knock out stage and gain some momentum. Realistically this team may not need to his top form for about about 11 weeks yet. Far too panicky up here thinking we should be beating everyone every week.

Allow for fact that one of Armagh, Tyrone, Kerry and Mayo could be relegated with us.

[Wildweasel74]

That's no reason to hold on to him Brendan.

[Stickittotheman]

That's no reason to hold on to him Brendan.

Tally will be judged on Championship like every other manager. Anything less than quarter finals would be seen as a poor return. Ulster is difficult away to the holders but Championship is Championship. A decent run and the league will be forgotten. Early exit and the league then becomes an aspect where everything is taken in the round. Poor league and Championship would be disastrous.

[Mario]

Has any team in recent years got relegated and had a good championship the same year. Dublin 2022 is the only recent example I can think of but that was an all Ireland winning team cruising through the league.

[Interstellar]

The league table doesn't lie. Most goals conceded, at least double every other team. 3rd or 4th on points scored however. Absolutely must tighten up the defence to have any chance in the championship. Also, is there any other talent out there besides mcgurk worth a shot? At least the injury list has forced giving a few others a try to expand the squad. We were never going to win AI even with Gallagher's team and small squad depth.

[Wildweasel74]

Nobody said Armagh win an all-Ireland, who we beat the yr b4 and look what happened.

[oakleaflad]

Are some of you the same people commenting on Derry GAA's Facebook posts?

Tally needs a bit of time. We haven't been great in the league this year, but we were last year and look how that turned out.

People calling for Gallagher back, like we would have been any better with the panel he used if Clucky, McKinless, Rogers, McFaul, Murray etc were injured, McKaigue retired and McGrogan and Loughlin just returning to full fitness.

We need to unearth new players and a year in Div 2 isn't the end of the world to do this.

Hope we get a look at some of the fringe players vs Armagh.

[tbrick18]

Are some of you the same people commenting on Derry GAA's Facebook posts?

Tally needs a bit of time. We haven't been great in the league this year, but we were last year and look how that turned out.

People calling for Gallagher back, like we would have been any better with the panel he used if Clucky, McKinless, Rogers, McFaul, Murray etc were injured, McKaigue retired and McGrogan and Loughlin just returning to full fitness.

We need to unearth new players and a year in Div 2 isn't the end of the world to do this.

Hope we get a look at some of the fringe players vs Armagh.

I'm not a huge Tally fan, but this is a sensible post.
I don't think he's done that much wrong - apart from the obvious GK issue, which he at least rectified by bringing Lynch back in. I just hope his injury isnt too bad as we don't have a sub keeper. Scullion did well last year, really unfortunate that he's not there now. McNicholl just isn't a keeper, not his fault, it just doesnt work. Lynch would have saved quite a few of the goals he let in over the season imo.

We've had an un-precedented amount of injuries to key players over the league and will still be missing some for the entirety of the championship.
We have, however, unearthed a few too. Bradley has been good and I think has been getting better. McGurk looked good, but needs more games see where he really is. Dan Higgins has been good in spells. If/when injuries clear up, our panel looks stronger with the emergence of these guys.

McGrogan and Loughlin both played well early in the game at the weekend, Louglin scored a fantastic point after winning his own ball once too. But fitness clearly caught up on them as McGrogan got caught out a few times and Loughlin just ran out of steam. Only to be expected with the length of time out injured.

MF is struggling, Anton has no shortage of effort and his distribution of the ball is usually accurate, but he doesn't catch enough for a lad his height and he seems to have no confidence in shooting when he gets into scoring positions. I don't know what other MF options we have. Maybe CD to MF with McFaul dropping back into the HB line? Gallagher played him at MF a few times and he did well.

Even with all of the injuries, we should have beaten Galway and Kerry, so there are some promising signs.
Div 2 isnt the end of the world and if we can get injured players back I think Donegal are beatable. If we have Murray, Rogers and Lynch back that gives us a bit of depth. But a lot would have to go right for us if that was to happen.

On general play, we do need to work on attacking more quickly and shoring defence. I do think the new rules have meant a huge shift in how Derry played in comparison to some other sides so perhaps we have more adjustment to do. I do worry about Tally's tactical nous though, time will tell but for now I wouldn't be overly critical of him as it hasn't been plain sailing.

[Estimator]

I think that Lynch's quad is gone and we won't see him this season - so that's 3 out completely (McCloskey, McKinless and Lynch). Another goalkeeper is required, and one that is ready to be thrown straight in at the start of the Championship.

I think we'll play Armagh with an even weaker side again next week. It makes sense to rest the likes of Glass, McGuigan, the Dohertys and McEvoy. Given Tally's comments after the game, the wider panel might be given a run out.

[tbrick18]

I think that Lynch's quad is gone and we won't see him this season - so that's 3 out completely (McCloskey, McKinless and Lynch). Another goalkeeper is required, and one that is ready to be thrown straight in at the start of the Championship.

I think we'll play Armagh with an even weaker side again next week. It makes sense to rest the likes of Glass, McGuigan, the Dohertys and McEvoy. Given Tally's comments after the game, the wider panel might be given a run out.

Terrible news.
We effectively don't have a keeper if this is the case. I'd go looking for Scullion to see if he can be brought in - no idea why he's not on the panel I think I remember seeing something about him coaching u20s?

It would be sensible to protect players now and use the Armagh game to have a look at an alternative keeper and some of these Dev Squad players - especially as this is a dead rubber match.
I should say, I thought Glass put in a serious shift against Mayo - he hit some top class scores. God help us if he picks up an injury at this stage.