Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[tbrick18]

Surely Damien McErlaine must be considered to be one of the most successful managers in Derry county football. The missing link for some of these players to make the grade to senior has to be a successful u20 team which we havenotbeengoodat in thepast. Hopefully he can now be the man to make that happen. Pity he was not a success at senior but maybe that was down to availability of players at that time.

I think he is a good link but in regards to one of the most successful I think until he's done it at senior level he probably won't get the credit he is due.

Glen won 4 Ulster Minor titles and its a serious achievement but Malachy O'Rourke is still recognised as being the man who got them to top table. Don't necessarily agree but its how its portrayed.

Its a good point.
As good as he's been at that underage level, he was disaster in the senior role and out of his depth.
The single best thing he did when there, was to get Meenagh in to sort out the defensive side of things for us which resulted in promotion from Div4. So he should be given credit at least for seeing where the shortcomings were and taking action to resolve.
I think he's in his element at minor/u20 and so long as its producing results then its where he's being most beneficial to Derry.

[ClubScene13]

Tyrone the same with Paul Devlin doing great things at U20, but not many people took him too serious when senior position became available

[Mikhailov]

Tyrone the same with Paul Devlin doing great things at U20, but not many people took him too serious when senior position became available

Don't think it is as clear cut as that. Devlin has his supporters but maybe not in the influential positions....that is the key.

[imtommygunn]

Is it not a very different kind of role though? McErlain obviously very good with youngsters but senior setups very different. Just a different skillset really.

[Silver hill]

Is it not a very different kind of role though? McErlain obviously very good with youngsters but senior setups very different. Just a different skillset really.

Massive difference in managing minor/young adults and established seniors. A completely different set of people management skills required.

[Wildweasel74]

Just have to look at the last Kerry manager who had done 3 in a row with Kerry Minors.

[LC]

People management just as important at senior level as well as tactical nous.  At minor level some managers just have to say jump and the players go how high, different with seniors in terms of bigger egos and more opinions in the changing room.

[Derry Optimist]

There are two  interesting comparisons from the personnel of this year's Derry U20 team and their minor counterparts of 2022. Three years ago Patrick McMullan was a substitute on the Derry minor team  that was narrowly beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi - final. Now, he has progressed significantly as  both a player of great potential and as a leader.  He is this year's  team's accomplished centre half back and is the vice captain of the side.

Only for  the cruciate ligament suffered by another talismanic-type  leader, Ryan McNicholl, in the 2022 Ulster minor campaign, leaving him out for the whole season, perhaps his presence would have been a deciding factor in possibly beating Galway!

As it is there are only 12 players, if you include Ryan, remaining from that 2022 minor team on the current U20 panel.  I often wonder why there is such a dropping off of personnel. Is it only  because of injury, a lack of interest or do a large percentage of young players, for whatever reason,  not develop physically and mentally to withstand the rigors of a more physically challenging type of game at the higher levels and are consequently considered not good enough for selection at a higher grade? It would be interesting  to see a scientific study which would clarify the reasons for such a large turnover.

Although in fairness to all concerned in the Derry set- up they were fortunate in being able to select from the cream of Derry's two outstanding All-Ireland-winning teams of 2023 and 2024. Hopefully all Derry stakeholders will ensure that this excellent team reaches its full potential.

[Wildweasel74]

Well that lad C Chambers was full forward last yr, and underage this Yr but not on the panel. Presume he's injured. There normally not a overly big turn over, u get 9/10 starters from the minor team carry to U20 equivalent 

[Wildweasel74]

Watching Offaly the day, how come Harte didn't change his tactics in the 2nd half of the Donegal game and the qualfiers last year. And keep the Keeper within his own 45. Mystery when I see Offaly out, totally different, new rules or not.

[shawshank]

I listened to a podcast where Horse Devlin a while back, can't recall the name of the podcast, took responsibility for the keeper fiasco in the Donegal game. He said he was forceful in persuading Harte to go with it. The Chamber one is a real puzzle as my lad is pal with a few Bellaghy cubs from school and he is not injured & playing with Bellaghy.

[screenexile]

I listened to a podcast where Horse Devlin a while back, can't recall the name of the podcast, took responsibility for the keeper fiasco in the Donegal game. He said he was forceful in persuading Harte to go with it. The Chamber one is a real puzzle as my lad is pal with a few Bellaghy cubs from school and he is not injured & playing with Bellaghy.

Yeah it was on Wooly's podcast... I'm still annoyed about the arrogance!

[Ryan O]

I see Kerry are off on a training camp to Portugal. Did Derry go on one this year did we hear??🙈🫣

[toby47]

Hearing 5-6 of the Derry u20's have walked off the panel - Not sure of the reason. Anyone hear?

[JE23]

I listened to a podcast where Horse Devlin a while back, can't recall the name of the podcast, took responsibility for the keeper fiasco in the Donegal game. He said he was forceful in persuading Harte to go with it. The Chamber one is a real puzzle as my lad is pal with a few Bellaghy cubs from school and he is not injured & playing with Bellaghy.

Seems to have been a number of players that were on the u20 squad last year (a few starting / getting significant gametime) that didn't make the panel this year, when they were in their final year at that level. Seems really strange leaving them out.