Cassidy Remains Positive

It was encouraging to read Damian Cassidy in yesterday's Irish News speaking frankly and positively about his future with Derry. No doubt there are some elements within the county who have the knives out (having started sharpening them last October), but Cassidy appears determined to carry out the job he has undertaken with the Oak Leafers:

"I am still coming to terms with getting beaten in the Championship. And, to be frank, as a manager I’m not that accustomed to that. But you can do one of two things. You can either back away from it, or it either fuels you up and makes you more determined. At the minute, it’s the latter one that applies."

He will have learned much from his debut season as an inter-county manager, and has already pin-pointed where Derry's failings have come this season:

"When we became more offensive in the last two matches we conceded a lot. We have to find the balance between defending adequately and scoring enough to get results. That’s something that needs to be worked on."

How he goes about rectifying these problems will be his biggest job, but it looks like he has identified the introduction of new players to the squad as one of his priorities:

"The overall feeling is that there must be younger players brought into the squad to allow the team to become a serious Championship contender. It’s clear that we need to look at younger players to strengthen the mobility of the team and the scoring ability of the team."

We in Derry may sometimes be guilty of getting carried away with the amount of talent we think we have at our disposal, but here are six players who have appeared regularly enough for the Oak Leafers in recent seasons, but didn't feature in the squad to play Donegal last Saturday night: Kevin McGuckin, Niall McCusker, Michael McGoldrick, Liam Hinphey, Joe O'Kane, Paul Cartin.

That's a full defence, and the availability of any one of these players would have siginificantly strenghthened a defensive line-up that has been seriously exposed in recent games.

This case in point is an illustration of the strength in depth available within Derry and - without meaning to do an ostrich impression - I believe that finding new players may not need to be Cassidy's first priority. Instead, getting them to adapt to different positions when necessary - in order to cater for differing types of opposition - may be a start in helping us finally deliver the goods at the business-end of the season.

Lines Written in Dejection

You know it's a difficult defeat to take in, when on the Wednesday morning it's still encompassing your wakening thoughts.

Another heavy rainstorm battering against the window doesn't register. Even heavier sneezing (in these pandemic times) doesn't cost a single thought. The mind wanders towards this weekend - what would have been a weekend away in Sligo. Yes, that's where it's at. Beautiful Sligo, where the majestic Benbulben lurks over your every move. Where WB Yeats rests lightly beneath the land he managed to spiritualise with his genius. Ah Sligo.

Wait a second... Sligo?

For crying out loud. Anyone would think it was some sort of exotic heaven on Earth. A quick slap on the face brings reality crashing back. But there are still flashbacks from that awful night in Ballybofey. Barry Monaghan (I thought he had retired?) driving forward at will. Trying to get through that narrowest of alleys that leads to the main stand. The floodlights coming on, one by one. There was little sun, timid or otherwise.

The day's first bead of sweat breaks on the brow.

I think to myself that I've probably had similar thoughts during each of the last sixteen years. And hell, they'll probably come back to me for the next sixteen. But as Derry fans we wouldn't have it any other way. There's a certain masochistic quality required to follow the Oak Leafers. Every year we tell ourselves that this season will be different ("sure we're one of the top four teams in the country at least"); that our vast abundance of talent will finally perform on the big stage and that Ulster and All-Ireland success is only a back-to-back victory away. Come July, these hopes have evaporated, turned somewhat magically into despair. Another painful exit (why do they always seem to be by just a point or two?) heralds the end of a summer that barely began.

When will we ever learn? A disappointing exit one season should mean that success might not necessarily come our way the following season. And as Derry have not put consecutive victories together in the Ulster Championship in eleven whole years, you would think that we could see the heavy bold writing on the dilapidating wall. Apparently not.

When we sit down to eat the turkey, perhaps we'll realise that we were expecting too much of Damian Cassidy and his stretched and relatively inexperienced squad this season. We will take encouragement from the fact that we have blooded some very promising new players (that will have learned much from a chastening debut season), and we'll be happy that some players have settled and matured into outstanding performers. We will think that all this augurs well for the future, and that we are well on our way to building a team that can compete for honours in the next 2-3 years.

Then, next year, when a resurgent Kildare beat us by a single point in a Round 4 qualifier at Breffni Park, defeat will be much easier to take.

Painful Sting in Familiar Tale

Well, that was a tough one to take, and it might hurt for quite a while.

The defeat itself, and the manner of it, was something we Derry fans were hoping we wouldn't have to endure for another few matches, but unfortunately it all amounts to the same old story, as another Oakleaf side failed to build upon the excellent victory achieved in the previous game.

Put simply, Donegal out-thought us and outclassed us, and despite the slender margin of the extra-time victory, even the staunchest Derry fan would have to admit that the Tír Chonaill men deserved to win with a bit more to spare.

So, where did it all go wrong? Well, it's probably best to start at the beginning, because this is arguably the period where Derry lost the game. Derry's first point didn't come until the 16th minute, and after the blazing opening a week earlier in Clones, I, along with many Derry fans were already feeling uncomfortable in Ballybofey. An uneasiness seemed to have gotten a grip of the Derry players, and this transmitted to the terraces. Derry were second to every ball, conceding a mass of possession in midfield, and were supplying the forward line with poor final ball. A slow start from Damian Cassidy's side set the tempo for the game, and Donegal smelt blood. The Bellaghy-man admitted as much after the game:

"We probably lost it in the first 20 minutes of the first half. We lost the initiative at that stage and we were always playing catch-up after that."

It looked like the energy and focus Derry had pumped into disposing of Monaghan had been left behind in Clones. It was a tough ask to get these Derry players to produce a similar performance just one week later, and there must have been great difficulty in getting the squad prepared mentally to the same level.

It showed.

John Joe Doherty had no such problems and he set his side up to defend heavily against Derry's front pairing of Paddy and Eoin Bradley. A tactic that has worked against the Oakleafers in the past seemed like it might be alien to a Donegal team that are used with playing open football. But Doherty instructed his team to funnel men back in numbers and create space for the front pairing of McFadden and Murphy. The likes of Brian Mullan and Chrissy McKaigue found themselves too often in forward positions - not what Damian Cassidy would prefer - and Derry's full-back line was well and truly exposed. Donegal's tactic worked well.

That was disappointing from a Derry point of view. We are well used to see teams employ sweepers in front of our forward division - yet we had no answer. The Donegal screening made Derry panic in possession, creating numerous turnovers in the first half. Derry were sloppy and ponderous - a million miles away from the team that had disposed of Monaghan. The forwards were not being supplied with percentage ball (the standard of passing not approaching the required clinical level) and with Paddy Bradley struggling on the excellent Karl Lacey, Derry's forward threat was diminishing as the half wore on. Donegal were thriving. Murphy and McFadden were winning every ball and creating havoc. They paired up for Donegal's first goal which gave them a real confidence booster. Derry heads dropped. The substitution of Kevin McCloy was inevitable; the introduction of debutant Brian Óg McAlary illustrating how stretched Derry's resources had become. He did well to stick to McFadden, but the Donegal forwards were winning every ball that came their way.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that Derry were behind on the scoreboard, but they never appeared to explore the possibility of dropping a man back in front of the full-back line. Barry McGoldrick played in a sweeper role at various stages this season and should have been moved back to help deal with the constant Donegal forward threat.

Midfield meanwhile was almost like a vacuum for Derry possession. Donegal were cleaning up in this area with Conall Dunne playing deep to win what seemed like a mountain of ball. Derry's success in the breaking ball stakes amounted to a total of 0% in the first half. An abysmal statistic that set the platform for defeat. Gerard O'Kane (who produced yet another excellent performance) kicked the ball away in frustration when the referee blew for half-time, and with his side three points down he and the rest of us knew Derry were in big trouble.

And yet, throughout the game (bar the early part of the second half when Donegal opened up a five-point advantage) Derry somehow managed to keep in touch. Mark Lynch, James Kielt and Eoin Bradley were the chief scorers, but they had been reduced to picking off lang-range efforts as Derry failed to break through the solid Donegal defence. Eoin Bradley was particularly influential in the second-half, continuing to win his own ball and run constantly at the Donegal defence. As time ticked on, the fingernails were taking a battering, and the loss of a subdued Paddy Bradley to injury saw another largely untested player in the shape of Gavin McShane enter the cauldron. It wasn't looking good, but having given themselves a mountain to climb Derry were fighting back. Doherty and Patsy Bradley with the help of Barry McGuigan, were only just beginning to get a foothold in midfield, while Gerard O'Kane was piling forward at will.

With the game in its final minute and Derry only a point behind, Chrissy McKaigue showed little fear to pounce on loose possession and hit a classy strike over the bar. Derry had just got out of jail, but that point illustrated just how hard they were having to work for scores, that continued to be struck from long-range. Derry couldn't penetrate the centre of the Donegal defence, and never looked like creating the goal that might have carried them over the finishing line.

At the end of the seventy minutes I thought that Derry could push on and win it in extra-time. Unfortunately, David Coldrick's normal-time whistle was as good as it got. Donegal should have felt like the beaten team, but Kevin Cassidy's goal gave them a fresh impetus, and an extra-time lead from which Derry could not recover. Colm McFadden almost went from hero to villain, kicking several wides in the two extra periods that basically kept Derry in the game. And then came the last-gasp chance that Enda Lynn sliced wide. It was an unfortunate moment for him and every Derry person inside the ground felt his anguish. We had almost come away with an unlikely draw - but the damage had already been done.

Donegal had outplayed us. They got their tactics spot on, while Derry revisited their form from previous seasons that saw the side unable to cope with a blanket defensive system. Derry had proven a point last week against Monaghan, but they failed to replicate that desire and hunger from the beginning in Ballybofey. Donegal were better prepared for the battle; they were able to raise their game for the arrival of the red-hot favourites from Derry.

It's been a difficult pill to swallow... and it hasn't quite been stomached just yet. The word 'gutted' gets bandied about a few times too often these days, but even us Derry fans probably require a stronger adjective to describe the emotions since leaving a darkening Ballybofey.

But thems the breaks, and Damian Cassidy will know today, if he didn't already, the magnitude of the task he has with this Derry team. Injuries and suspensions have forced his hand (Niall McCusker and Kevin McGuckin would have strengthened the defence, while Enda Muldoon would have added a play-making ability to a floundering attack), while the unforgiving nature of the qualifying system ensured Derry would have difficult tasks to complete in short time-frames.

The dream is over for another year... the nightmares continue.

DERRY: B Gillis; C McKaigue (0-1), K McCloy, S.M Lockart; G O'Kane (0-1), B McGoldrick (0-2 frees), SL McGoldrick; F Doherty, Patsy Bradley; J Diver, J Kielt (0-5, 0-3 frees), B Mullan; E Bradley (0-3), Paddy Bradley (0-2 frees), M Lynch (0-3) Subs B McAlary for McCloy, 34 mins; G McShane (0-1) for Diver, 43 mins; B McGuigan for Mullan, 43 mins; E Lynn for Paddy Bradley, 50 mins; S Bradley for McShane, 79 mins

Derry Must Keep Focus

In RTÉ Sport's preview for Derry's third round Qualifier against Donegal, they reckon that the Tír Chonaill men are something of a dying animal and that the Oakleafers will put them out of their misery at Ballybofey on Saturday evening. Of course, there is another school of thought that suggests Donegal are more of a wounded animal, and therefore represent a dangerous threat.

With Derry's best interests at heart, I certainly wouldn't dwell too much on the former theory. In my lifetime as a Derry fan, I can never remember an easy Championship game against our Western neighbours. Yes, we've had some decent victories against them, but in the past twenty years these have been by no more than three points - even when Derry were at their all-time best.

Forget about Derry brushing last Saturday's Monaghan challenge aside with relative ease, tomorrow's game is likely to be a tight affair.

While Derry have assumed heavy favouritism for the game (1/2), it is fair to say that this price has been reached with only the Monaghan performance in mind; this time last week Derry were outsiders heading to Clones. Championship favouritism can be a fickle concept.

Anyway, since last Saturday, the Derry players and management should have an extra spring in their step. The forwards - Paddy Bradley especially - seem to be clicking into form, and with Fergal Doherty, Patsy Bradley and James Kielt back from injury, the Oakleafers have been strengthened considerably in the middle third. But we're only at Round 3; still two wins away from getting back on solid ground at the All-Ireland Quarter-Final stage.

So there's plenty of work yet to do. Kerry were obviously the team to avoid in the draw, but a trip to Ballybofey might possibly be deemed the next toughest task on offer. The good news is that we haven't drawn Monaghan again, but the Ulster theme continues. Last year, Derry struggled for long periods in the Ulster first round game at the Donegal venue, before eventually emerging with a two-point victory. It took a ten-point haul from Paddy Bradley and a goal from Eoin Bradley to help achieve it.

Derry will be looking to these two guys again tomorrow night, but James Kielt and Mark Lynch had promising displays last week in Clones, and they will hope to reproduce this form to take some pressure off the Glenullin brothers. Damian Cassidy won't have been pleased with how his side defended against Monaghan. Things improved in the second-half when Sean Martin Lockhart and Kevin McCloy got much closer to their men, but these two will have to be on top form to prevent the enigmatic duo of Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy from stamping their authority on the game.

They are the two shining lights in what has been a disappointing season thus far for John Joe Doherty's men. I remember leaving Glen on Easter Sunday (having watched Derry comfortably dispose of Donegal to reach the NFL Final and consign our neighbours to relegation) thinking that this Donegal side had little to offer. They seemed to rely on Brian Roper to get their attack going, and they lacked any sort of onfield leadership. All this was backed up by their first round result against Antrim. Although I though Donegal looked like the better team that day. They created more chances, but just didn't have the killer instinct in front of goal.

It was a massive setback for them, and they were always going to struggle to get through the first couple of qualifying rounds. Carlow and Clare at home were stumbled past, but these games were the perfect stepping stones. They haven't quite found their form, but Donegal have always been a side that can produce a big performance on any given day. With Barry Dunnion and Karl Lacey back in defence, Derry's forwards are unlikely to enjoy another field day, while the aforementioned Murphy and McFadden always look capable of producing a big game. Donegal will raise their level for Derry, no question.

However, they look to be weak around the middle of the field. The loss of Christy Toye to injury last week was a big blow to a side already without the presence of Neil Gallagher and Ciaran Bonner thanks to a disciplinary issue. And this is where Derry can win the game. Last week the midfield trinity of Diver, Doherty and Bradley helped propel Derry to victory, as Monaghan couldn't cope with Derry's domination of possession. Another midfield performance like this, and a similar outcome could be on the cards. Derry need to keep their heads though. One good performance does not necessarily lead to another, as Oakleaf followers are only too aware. No doubt Damian Cassidy will have spent this week focusing his player's thoughts on the task in hand, whilst emphasising the importance of consistence performances. Else, last week's win will have meant absolutely nothing.

Derry must stick to last week's template. Direct passing out of defence, early ball to the forwards, runners through the middle. They have proved they can perform and win by playing like this; the question now is whether this can be displayed with a bit more frequency. We'll get some sort of answer in Ballybofey.

Donegal have their own questions to answer - and I expect to see an improved display from John Joe Doherty's side - but will it be enough to stop a Derry side that should now be performing with confidence and building upon the momentum gathered by last weekend's excellent victory?

I suspect and hope not! Derry by three.

Back on Track!

What a difference a few weeks make!

Saturday's game - as most analysts were at pains to tell us - was alien to anything we've seen from Derry in the Championship this year. It was lightyears away - in terms of footballing quality - from the clash between Derry and Monaghan back in May, with the amount of attacking play and quality scores no doubt surprising the 8,000 in attendance as well as those who bothered to watch the game live on TV.

Certainly the Derry followers who made the trip to Clones will have been delighted. This time last year, we were in Clones in very similar circumstances, but the mood was very different. We've had to beat Monaghan twice now this season, and this time it's the knockout blow. Derry have gained a little bit of redemption from the no-show at Casement Park, and any hopes of Championship success can linger a little longer.

But what was the difference?

Well, firstly, stand up Paddy Bradley. After the week the Glenullin man has had to endure, producing a performance of that calibre showed the immense quality and talent he has at his disposal. Scoring 2-8 against a Monaghan side known for its defensive tightness and suffocating pressure probably deserves some sort of award of its own. And if Bradley can continue this form, Derry's hopes of success will improve immeasurably.

But he wasn't the only star on show. Eoin Bradley's playmaking on Saturday was simply superb. He set up all three goals, while hitting a couple of points himself. The brothers worked well in tandem and they were getting fantastic supply.

The reason for this was that Derry were moving the ball much more quickly than we seen in the first two games. There was no laboured handpassing out of defence (that blighted the Tyrone game in particular), with emphasis appearing to be on kickpassing to move the ball up the pitch at a higher speed. Damian Cassidy must take credit for this change, as the Derry players seemed to have this tactic drummed into them from the outset. It made a huge difference.

Players like Mark Lynch (who had his best game for Derry in quite some time) seemed to thrive. Instead of running into cul de sacs with his head down, he was constantly looking to find a forward with an early ball. He was involved in several Derry scores, as well as hitting a couple himself, when his early pass had allowed him to run off the shoulder of the ball-carrier. Clever football really, that is the most effective way of getting scores.

Sean Leo McGoldrick and Gerard O'Kane also ran forward at will (providing the all-important outlet on the wing) while Patsy Bradley put in some sterling work in a defensive midfield role. It was evident on Saturday how much we've missed him when he was injured; his presence - along with another excellent display from Joe Diver - allowed Derry to boss the midfield battle. There was no reliance on Fergal Doherty to get the ball rolling in this division, although the Bellaghy man's return was certainly welcome, and he also went through his usual amount of work. Dominating the midfield battle does wonders when you're trying to win what has effectively become a straight shootout (with a high percentage of Oakleaf scores coming direct from collected kickouts).

The reason why it became such an open game (and have Pat Spillane and co. gush with praise) was because Derry took an early lead. The opening goal set the tone for the game and put Monaghan immediately on the backfoot. By the time James Kielt palmed home the Oakleafer's second goal, the Farney men looked in trouble. The catalyst for all this was arguably the brave decision to start Fergal Doherty in the full-forward line, which clearly unsettled the Monaghan defence. But it was after taking a seven-point lead that Derry stopped playing and allowed Monaghan to get within a point shortly after the break. The Derry management will be keen to figure out why Derry let their advantage slip at this stage (and in the last fifteen minutes, when the deficit was ten points).

Perhaps the substitution of Brian Mullan disrupted things slightly. He had been playing well in the wing-forward role before picking up a knock, and Derry needed to adjust in his absence (with Barry McGuigan putting in a solid second-half performance before picking up an injury himself). A more probable reason, it seemed (from the relative comfort of the Gerry Arthur Stand), was that Derry squandered hard-won possession too easily. Having got the ball into the Monaghan half, there were too many occasions when it was put into the forwards with little thought - creating a 50/50 opportunity for the grateful Monaghan defence. I can forgive this type of play as the game approached the finish (because Derry looked out of sight), with the game won, but midway through the match, it looked like it could cost dearly.

The other main gripe from the game was the concession of 20 points. It's a huge tally to concede (especially when you've ended up winning by five points), and was a direct result of the Monaghan forwards being afforded too much space. Hanratty was producing a career-best (making up for the absence of Tommy Freeman) and Rory Woods was pulling the strings. I feel though, that it was a false return from Seamus McEnaney's side as five points came in the final minutes.

Still, the Oakleaf squad will be keen to eradictae such loose play in defensive areas. 25 points won't be scored every week.

So, in the end, a game that I had been dreading ended up being one of the matches of the season. And producing it against Monaghan was extra-sweet considering the bother they have given us in recent years. It was a pleasure to witness Paddy Bradley's performance. The third goal was a magnificent thing, eclipsed only by the ironic celebrations that swiftly followed. It was indeed game over, and Bradley was entitled to enjoy the moment. It was also ironic that Dessie Mone ended up playing all over the field (having found Bradley too hot to handle), and that Dick Clerkin's substitution was probably his best moment of the game.

Job done.

All eyes now turn to Ballybofey, where the word 'consistency' might be crossing one or two minds as we try to build up a bit of back-door momentum. If the Oakleafers can produce a performance like Saturday's you'd expect another victory, but as always with Derry, there'll be no guarantees.

Derry - B Gillis; D McBride, K McCloy, S M Lockhart; G O'Kane (0-1), B McGoldrick, S L McGoldrick (0-1, 1f); F Doherty, Patsy Bradley; J Diver, J Kielt (1-1), B Mullan; E Bradley (0-2), Paddy Bradley (2-8, 2f), M Lynch (0-2). Subs: C McKaigue (0-1) for McBride (16), B McGuigan for Mullan (28)

Derry's Qualifier Record at Clones

Last month I railed against the selection of Casement Park as the venue for Derry's game with Tyrone. A hateful venue at which Derry have a poor recent record. However - bar Celtic Park - we don't seem to have a very good recent Championship record anywhere. Ahead of this weekend's meeting with Monaghan at St. Tiernach's Park, a quick glance at the books show that Clones, like anywhere else, has brought little in the way of consistency, and Derry's qualifier record there (since 2001) bears testament to that:

2001, July 22:
Derry 1-14 Cavan 2-7
Derry - O McCloskey, K McCloy, SM Lockhart, G Doherty, F Crossan, G Coleman 0-1, K McNally, A Tohill 1-4, F Doherty, P McFlynn 0-3, D Dougan, J McBride 0-1, P Bradley 0-2, E Muldoon 0-1, G Diamond 0-1. Subs: D Heaney 0-1 for Lockhart, C Gilligan for Dougan, J Kelly for Bradley
Referee - M Curley (Galway)

2003, June 28:
Dublin 3-09 Derry 1-09
Derry - M Conlon, K McGuckin, N McCusker, SM Lockhart, G Doherty, P McFlynn, D Crozier 0-1, A Tohill 0-1, F Doherty, M Harney, E Muldoon 0-1, J McBride, P Bradley 1-2, G McGonigle 0-3, D Dougan. Subs: P O’Kane 0-1 for G Doherty, K McCloy for McCusker, C Gilligan for Gilligan, F Glackin for McBride, J Gray for Harney
Referee - B White (Wexford)

2007, July 8:
Derry 0-10 Armagh 0-9
Derry - S O'Kane; K McCloy, M McGoldrick, S M Lockhart, G O'Kane, F McEldowney, L Hinphey; F Doherty, J Conway; M Lynch 0-1, P Murphy 0-1, B McGoldrick 0-1; C Devlin 0-2, Paddy Bradley 0-5, C Gilligan. Subs: R Wilkinson for Gilligan (25 mins), J Diver for Conway (55), J Keenan for Hinphey (60), G Donaghy for Lynch (67)
Referee - E Murtagh (Longford)

2008, July 19:
Monaghan 1-13 Derry 1-12
Derry - J Deighan; K McCloy, N McCusker, J O’Kane (0-1); M McBride, G O’Kane, L Hinphey; F Doherty (0-1), Patsy Bradley; E Muldoon (0-1), E Bradley (1-1), R Wilkinson; C Devlin (0-1), P Bradley (0-4, 2f), M Lynch (0-2). Subs - C McKeague (0-1) for Hinphey, C Gilligan for R Wilkinson, P Murphy for Muldoon, J Diver for McCloy, J Conway for Patsy Bradley
Referee - D Coldrick (Meath)

Forgetting Farney

We can dress this up all we want, but the last team we wanted to draw in Round 2 of the qualifier was Monaghan. Away. I immediately thought to myself 'God, a week of listening to nonsense about the last game in Celtic Park. Violence, suspensions, appeals. Banty... again.' At least the game is this week, and that gives minimal time for the media to blow this potentially-extremely-fractious encounter even further out of proportion (I just hope no-one talks about hoping for a good game of football to make up for the last game.) But still, I feel it is necessary to try and forget about this game totally until the ball is thrown-in at 3pm on Saturday.

It won't be easily done I admit, but at least Paddy Bradley has got the ball rolling. Has he left the squad? Is he back in the squad? The confusion over his apparent departure from the Derry panel took care of Monday and half of Tuesday. Most Derry supporters had possibly forgotten all about Saturday's game at this stage. Perfect.

And just as the Glenullin-man was throwing the boots in the bag before heading to Owenbeg, Michael Jackson's memorial service (99% showbiz spectacle; 1% funeral) was doing a good job of keeping the mind firmly off any impending football matches. Did you know that Jacko was born on the very week that Derry defeated Kerry to reach their first All-Ireland Final (August, 1958)? He probably never even realised... I suppose he did OK for himself in any case.

This morning was slightly quieter. I verged on heading to the various GAA websites and online Discussion Boards to read all sorts of nonsense relating to Saturday's game. Thankfully, I was stopped in my tracks by the thought of another event that many will likely rush to place firmly in the "foreign sports" file: The Ashes. This'll keep me occupied for a while! And before anyone starts, Michael Cusack was himself a keen Cricket enthusiast, and if it's good enough for one of the GAA's founding fathers then it's good enough for the rest of us. Plus - provided the other English batsmen don't follow Kevin Pietersen's example of trying impossible sweep shots - the first test between England and Australia should run for most of the scheduled five days. Perfect.

At this rate I mightn't have to go near Clones at all!

Bradley Returns

Was he ever away...?

There's been more mystery and intrigue surrounding Derry footballing circles in the past day and a half than a compendium of Sherlock Holmes, Tom Ripley and Scooby-doo.

It was widely reported yesterday that Paddy Bradley had left the Derry senior panel (even this most reputable of blogs carried the story), and this was taken as read until Mark Sidebottom interviewed Bradley's father Liam on BBC Newsline yesterday evening. The "Baker" said that he expected Paddy to be "involved with Derry on Saturday evening" (against Monaghan), and suddenly nobody had a scooby-doo what to believe.

Next, the Derry County Board decided to throw their tuppence-worth into an ever-confusing mix by releasing a statement saying that they "wish to end unsubstantiated rumours escalating in the media that Paddy Bradley has left the Derry Senior football panel". And that "such rumours are totally unfounded and without substance."

All the papers are carried the story about Derry denying Bradley's departure in their Sports headlines today, with Paddy Heaney's column in the Irish News outlining what appears to be a realistic version of events.

Clearly Paddy Bradley signalled some sort of intention to the Derry management after training on Sunday past. There is no smoke without fire after all. He has changed his mind however, and it is now apparent that Bradley is back in the Derry squad. Welcome news for all Derry followers, and a relief no doubt to Damian Cassidy and the Oakleaf squad as a whole.

The Monaghan game is fast approaching, and whether Bradley is in 100% condition to start must be extremely doubtful at this stage, but at least it now appears he may be available to play some part.

Bradley Leaves Derry Panel

It's bad enough that we are going to have beat our lovely friends from Monaghan again, but this tough assignment in Clones has been made even more difficult following this morning's shock news that Paddy Bradley has left the Derry panel.

A truly astounding development that will have had Damian Cassidy feeling a little groggy today after what must have been a night of little sleep. The timing is a big enough problem, with just five days before the trip to Clones (at 3pm this Saturday), but losing Paddy Bradley - Derry's All-Star and 'marquee forward' (as the pundits might say) - is a huge blow to the Derry camp.

It is unclear at the moment what his motivation for leaving the panel is, but if he feels that he cannot continue for the remainder of the season, then the decision is entirely his, and that must be respected and accepted by the Derry squad and supporters.

The news will unquestionably affect Derry's preparation this week, and the management will have their work cut out trying to galvanise the squad, and ensure that the team that takes the field against the Farney-men can cope with the loss of one of its key players.

There have been more than enough problems for Derry in the past two months, and this seems to be the culmination of those. An already tough task against Monaghan (where Derry are looking to save their season) has just got a hell of a lot more difficult, but let's hope the Oakleafers can turn this unwanted situation into a positive one.

Fergal Doherty and Brian Mullan will be back from suspension, Patsy Bradley has recovered from injury, and in an ideal world there should be forwards training out of their skin in order to fill Bradley's vacated position. Monaghan will be without their own marquee man in Thomas Freeman... all is not lost.

Back to yesterday evening's draw...

And Senan Connell is holding a little yellow ball that just came out of Pot 2. My TV3 reception gets a little fuzzy at times; it wouldn't have the name 'Doire' in it by any chance? Christy Cooney is standing there with a fairly smug looking grin between his chops... surely he wouldn't want to pit Monaghan along with Derry in the qualifiers, all for the sake of treating those two northern malcontents with the justice they deserve after their hate-fest back in May.

"Playing Monaghan will be... Derry".

I knew it. I just don't trust these draws at all. Call me ridiculously cynical, but we've been framed for this one, and if the GAA want to play that game, then we deserve to give Saturday's viewing public another foul-ridden, football-less encounter. As long as Derry win I couldn't care less. We'll take it out to the car-park if need be! And the rest of the country in their moral perch can moan till they're blue in the face.

In all seriousness though, this is probably the draw both sides wanted to avoid. And Monaghan have it as tough as us. They've already had to play Armagh, and have endured a pretty awful run of consecutive qualifier draws in recent years. Derry will just have to keep their heads and play their game, and hope that that will be enough to beat a Monaghan side that will no doubt be feeling some sort of rejuventaion this week in the wake of their extra-time victory over Armagh.

This match has more baggage than Terminal 5 at Heathrow, but it will probably be for the best if we somehow try and forget what's gone on before, and with or without Paddy Bradley show a willingness to take the game to Seamus McEnaney's side.

Although it's hard to be positive today, as another thunderstorm brews in an increasingly dark sky.

Saffrons Spice Things Up

I only managed to catch the last ten minutes of Saturday night's game in Clones, but if Cavan were playing like that for the whole of the game then they deserved to get beat. And if the first sixty minutes were as bad as the closing stages, then I'm glad I saw very little of it.

But very few people in Antrim will care about the quality of football on offer, as their 39-year wait for an Ulster Final appearance has finally come to an end. Unfortunately, I'll not be holding too much hope for Liam Bradley's side in the decider at Clones. I expect Tyrone to win comfortably enough - they have too many good players all over the pitch for Antrim to stop them. No matter how much the Saffrons huff and puff, the greater quality at the disposal of the Red Hands should shine through without too much resistance.

Antrim would be best advised to forget about who they are playing in the Final. If they get bogged down (as may have happened Derry) in trying to snuff out Tyrone, then they won't let their own strengths come to the fore. Antrim have showed passion, belief and confidence in abundance in the opening two rounds, and retreating back into their shell will do them no favours in a Final, where many people are only predicting the margin of Tyrone's victory.

And they're probably right, because let's face it... the Final could be a massacre.

Where's that handicap market?

And then there was One...

Most football commentators appear to be of the firm opinion that there is no point in playing this year's Ulster Final. In other words, when the silverware is handed out in Clones on 19th July, it'll be into the hands of Tyrone's captain. There's no doubting that in my mind also, but it figures then that tomorrow's Ulster semi-final between Antrim and Cavan is also meaningless.

So, instead of playing an Ulster semi-final tomorrow evening it should be played as some sort of "qualifier qualifier" (if you get my meaning), with the winner going into Round 4 and the loser joining Derry in Round 2. And just forget about the Ulster Final. That would save a lot of time and energy, but the winners still get their rightful reward.

Both sides will obviously point to the fact that they'll be all the better for playing in an Ulster Final, and it will be a great occasion etc. but believe me guys... it won't be great at all. It will be an awful experience.

Just for the record, I think that Cavan should have just about enough for Antrim in tomorrow's game. All round, they are a better balanced side with greater individual talent. They are also a more experienced team; with Antrim (to my knowledge) not having featured at the newly (early 1990s) renovated Clones in a Senior Championship tie. Antrim have players who have won Sigerson and Ulster Club titles, but this is a different level and I wonder how hard it will be for them to repeat their heroics from Ballybofey.

Cavan's edge in the forward line might just prove the telling difference, and with it give the Breffni-men the privilege of getting their backsides handed to them by the Red Hands in July.

More Doom and Gloom than 'Va Va Voom'

A few lengthy days have now passed since the disappointment of Sunday's performance in Casement Park. The second round of the Club championships is already underway, and this is usually as good a way as any to cast inter-county aspersions aside for one long weekend. However, Ballinderry's suspension from this year's Senior Championship has cast a huge shadow over this weekend's games, and is likely to linger for the remainder of the competition.

It has been a poor month for Derry football - both on and off the field - and at this rate, the season ain't going to get much better.

Anyway, to Casement Park then (gulp!), and Thursday is probably a safe enough distance from which to look back at Sunday's proceedings, and the many thoughts that have followed.

A quick scan at Monday's depressing bunch of papers outlined in heavy bold what we all already knew - Derry had not been good enough. And to make matters worse, most commentators all seemed to agree that Sunday's win was a mere stepping stone for the all-conquering Tyrone, as they brushed the derby challenge aside without having to barely break a sweat.

Monday's edition of The Irish News could have been mistaken for an issue of Top Gear (I assume there's a magazine to accompany this questionable TV show... Google confirms that - predictably - there is), such was the leaning towards vehicle metaphors by their writers. Kenny Archer must shoulder most of the blame for his piece that claimed Derry failed to match Tyrone's "va-va-voom". I can't disagree with much of that, but saying that Derry had been crushed "as if they were a tax-dodger’s vehicle" was perhaps a bit much!

Paddy Heaney continues the theme by saying that the Oaks had been "tanked", and that Tyrone would now "refuel before preparing to dismantle either Antrim or Cavan on July 19." He also tells us that Tyrone are looking close to being the finished article. Many Derry fans - if they weren't doing so already - will start to nod in resigned agreement, having witnessed Sunday's game.

Eamonn O'Hara chose to use the tried and trusted Shakespearean theme to tell us about Derry's "midsummer nightmare". The "toil and trouble" bit certainly rings true, but he neglected to tell us that the great bard never wrote a tragedy such as this. Any romantic tales will be put away for another day as the qualifier route looms for the Oakleafers.

Before I leave the Irish News' extensive offerings I must question Brendan Crossan's match report. He claimed the following: that "Eoin Bradley was lucky to escape with a yellow card after kicking out at Ryan McMenamin"; Barry McGuigan was also lucky to escape red after "gratefully accepting a yellow" (for his clash with Brian Dooher); and that Kevin McGuckin "pursued and lashed out at Sean Cavanagh". Three innocuous incidents in the course of the game that were highlighted and dressed-up. Tyrone were obviously blemish-free.

Time to move down to the southern press, and there's Sean Moran of The Irish Times banging on about a "driving-seat". What was in the tea in that pokey Casement press box anyway? He outlines the all-too evident differences between the sides:

"Tyrone were simply too accomplished for their struggling opponents. Their drifting, support game is so well practised that they can effortlessly enact complex strategies. This constant, meaningful movement – players picking out each other accurately and at pace and moving into space – was in contrast to Derry, who rarely managed to elude their markers when attacking and more than once the attacking runner showed little vision of which colleagues had got free and where."

Moving to The Irish Independent, and Martin Breheny's report talks about Tyrone "cruising" into the Ulster Final (hmmm... I should probably give him the benefit of the doubt!):

"Derry were far too predictable in their movement and were ultimately let down by a power failure in attack. Three of the starting six were replaced but it made no appreciable difference on a day when Derry's All-Ireland prospects took a serious knock."

A knock indeed, and one from which Derry have less than three weeks to dust themselves down, to try and stitch their season back together, piece by piece.

At least there's always someone worse off than yourself, and it is Roscommon who are holding that most dubious of honours this week. After their 20-point drubbing by Mayo at Castlebar, the Roscommon Herald likened their side's performance to that of the Kilkenny footballers...

Hopefully things won't get that bad for Derry!

The Longest Day

Unfortunately today's defeat to Tyrone doesn't require much analysis. We were beaten by a better team, plain and simple.

We have found ourselves at the juncture that has become so familiar since 2000, and Damian Cassidy will have a job on his hands to lift his players for the qualifier campaign that lies ahead. But it's hard to even consider that particular route tonight, after such a convincing loss to our closest rivals.

Today proved how good Tyrone really can be. Not only do they have a well-oiled system in place, but they have top-quality players in every sector of the field to carry it out effectively. They have a serious strength in depth also, that enables them to push on at certain stages of the game just when the opposition feel that they are getting to grips with them.

And they displayed all those qualities today, showing the country once again, that they are the complete team, and will take some stopping in their quest to win back-to-back All-Ireland titles. Today, almost every Tyrone player carried out their task to the letter. Without playing at their best, they won all the key battles, and took the chances required to win the game.

Derry weren't at the races.

Right from the start we looked lethargic. Playing without so many key players obviously didn't help, but the players on the field just couldn't get to grips with the task in hand.

Firstly, we were outplayed at midfield. It doesn't matter what type of system you are trying to impose on a game, if you don't win primary possession you are going to be in trouble. Kevin Hughes was outstanding for Tyrone in this sector, whilst Derry failed to impress on the breaking ball stakes. Joe Diver had a good game, but too often he was left isolated in the middle third. The Paul Murphy experiment at midfield didn't work. The Dungiven man seemed to play in an overly defensive role, and couldn't get into the game. His substitution midway through the first-half highlighted Derry's midfield problems. With Fergal Doherty, Enda Muldoon, Patsy Bradley and James Conway all unavailable these problems were unlikely to be overcome.

Derry found themselves three points in arrears at half-time, and most Oakleaf fans in the 24,000 crowd could be forgiven for being happy enough. In defence Gerard O'Kane and Sean Lockhart did excellent jobs in curtailing Sean Cavanagh and Stephen O'Neill respectively, but the problems were appearing elsewhere. Martin Penrose had given Kevin McGuckin a torrid opening period, while Tommy McGuigan was deadly accurate in front of the posts. We could live with a three-point deficit.

Derry's attacking machine had failed to kick into gear. In the system that we are trying to play, the wing positions are pretty much key. Enda Lynn and Eoin Brown failed to provide an attacking outlet, allowing Jordan and Harte to impose themselves in a familiar manner. Between centrefield and half-forward problems and the effective pressure Tyrone continuously applied, Derry's system failed to initiate.

It's a human trait that when people find themselves under pressure, they revert to type. Derry ran down blind alleys, played the ball backwards, and allowed Tyrone to gobble up possession. Attributes synoymous with poor Derry performances in recent years. The ball wasn't moved directly to the forwards, or to wide areas. There were no counter attacks. And failure to win primary ball exacerbated the problem.

Tyrone ruthlessly and efficiently exposed Derry's frailties, and were able to call upon Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan and Colm McCullagh off the bench. A show of strength that highlighted Derry's problems in this very area. Seamus Bradley replaced Murphy and caused some problems in the forward line, but Caolan O'Boyle and Gavin McShane came on to make their championshiop debuts, and could not have been expected to seriously influence the game.

Derry only managed two points in an excruciating second-half performance. Dooher helped Tyrone turn the screw and suddenly they were out of sight. Eoin Bradley helped carried the fight from deep positions, while Barry McGoldrick tried to break through from defence at every opportunity. Derry could only manage to kick ball down Tyrone's throat however (as Paddy Bradley and Mark Lynch found themselves well shackled), before the Red Hands broke free at pace. By the time Kevin McGuckin saw what looked like an extremely harsh red card, the game was clearly up.

It will be a despondent Derry squad this week. Understandably so. They didn't perform. They allowed Tyrone to overrun them, and they seemed to play with a lack of belief in themselves at times. That won't do against Tyrone. Derry have players to come back in that will help the cause, but Damian Cassidy might have to reconsider things before the first qualifier game. He will understand now, if he didn't know already, that success with Derry cannot be achieved overnight.

The Oakleaf supporters will be disillusioned also this evening, as a clear gap between ourselves and Tyrone was brutally exposed at Casement Park. Anyone believing Derry could win today (including myself!) was perhaps a little too hasty in applying an optimism towards a weakened Derry side, up against Tyrone's power, pace, strength and efficiency. It should be remembered that Mickey Harte has been moulding his Tyrone masterpiece for almost seven years now; Damian Cassidy has only just got his hands on the clay.

After today's harsh lesson, the season will still continue. Derry's hand should be strengthened the next day, but the lesson might have to be learned fast.

Derry: B Gillis, K McGuckin, SM Lockhart, G O'Kane, C McKaigue, B McGuigan, SL McGoldrick, B McGoldrick (0-01, f), J Diver, E Browne, P Murphy, E Lynn, E Bradley (0-04, 1f, 1 '45'), P Bradley (0-01, f), M Lynch. Subs: S Bradley (0-01) for Murphy (22), N McCusker for SL McGoldrick (54), C O'Boyle for Lynch (55)

Derry Must Take Giant Leap

The following is the Derry team to face Tyrone in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final at Casement Park: B Gillis, K McGuckin, SM Lockhart, G O'Kane; C McKaigue, B McGuigan, SL McGoldrick; B McGoldrick, J Diver; E Brown, P Murphy, E Lynn; E Bradley, P Bradley, M Lynch

His hands have been tied with injuries and suspensions, but Damian Cassidy has still managed to select a reasonably bold starting fifteen for this massive game. Dropping Kevin McCloy is a big move, while Eoghan Brown's selection is a minor risk; but in the circumstances there were few other options available (perhaps Paul Young, Gavin McShane and Caolan O'Boyle were staking claims - though it would be a big jump up in level for the latter two who have yet to feature in competitive football for Derry).

We're still only at the Ulster semi-final stage, but since 2000, this has been the very point of the Summer where Derry's wheels have fallen off the wagon. Tyrone, Donegal (twice), Armagh, Monaghan and Fermanagh have all inflicted defeats that have left deep wounds.

Ironically, Derry's barren Ulster decade has coincided with the introduction of the qualifier system in 2001, and an Ulster Final has not been reached since. It could be put down to a mindset that is happy to have the safety net of the back-door, but excuses are wearing thin. The truth is, we need to win an Ulster title. Soon.

And there's no time like the present. The fact that the All-Ireland Champions Tyrone currently stand in Derry's way should be a help rather than a hindrance. Derry have failed against so-called weaker opposition in previous campaigns; a derby semi-final meeting with the Red Hands should focus the mind. It's time to take their scalp and make a serious push for an Ulster title. Derry have been beaten with the 'under-achievers' stick for too long. We must now take that extra step to become 'serious contenders'. We can do that on Sunday.

We all know winning football games isn't about mindsets however, and Derry's squad is wearing a little thin ahead of Sunday's game. Injuries and suspensions have weakened the Oakleaf hand, and the bookies would appear to concur (with 9/4 available about an Oakleaf victory), but this team must expect to win. Doherty, Muldoon, McCusker and co. will be missed, but the players coming in are capable of doing enough to achieve victory.

This is a huge test of Damian Cassidy's credentials as manager, pitting himself directly against Mickey Harte. In the absence of some key players, Cassidy's preferred system of play will be tested rigorously against a full-strength Tyrone. I believe it has the capacity to obtain the result we all crave, but Derry need to work hard from the start in every sector of the field.

The wing-half forwards must push closely on the dangerous pairing of Davy Harte and Philip Jordan. These two have been crucial performers for Mickey Harte in recent seasons. They display an ability to break onto possession in their own half before finding ample space in opposition territory to both create and take scores. Derry cannot afford to let them find their rhythm at Casement Park. It will be a baptism of championship fire for Eoghan Brown, who will have his work cut out. Conversely, Derry's wing-backs must be willing to push forward at every opportunity, creating an attacking outlet, whilst keeping Tyrone on the back-foot.

Barry McGoldrick is likely to continue his sweeping role in defence. He must keep constant tabs on the roving influence of Sean Cavanagh, and the playmaking abilities of Tommy McGuigan and Owen Mulligan. The Derry defence as a whole (which incudes the welcome return of Sean Martin Lockhart) must focus dilligently on thwarting Tyrone's attacking machine, as they seek to set up scoring opportunities for McGuigan, but more pertinently Stephen O'Neill. And this attacking machine starts with John Devine in goals. The Derry forwards must press high from the second Devine looks like seizing up one of his short kickouts.

This all makes up part of how we expect Derry to play, but the Oakleafers shouldn't concentrate too much on stopping Tyrone. We must impose our own game on them, and I'm sure Cassidy will have made his players aware of that in the past couple of weeks. This means the likes of Sean Leo McGoldrick, Chrissy McKaigue and Gerard O'Kane will support the attack, helping to create scores for the Bradleys and Lynch, while Joe Diver will be tasked with breaking through the Tyrone middle third to add an extra dynamism to Derry's offensive play. It's easy to put it into words I suppose, but a little more difficult to practice on the field of play. Especially as Tyrone will probably play a sweeper of their own (most likely in the shape of Joe McMahon), while Conor Gormley, Ryan McMenamin and Justin McMahon will be given specific man-marking duties.

Derry must not leave their full-forward line isolated, and they will want to avoid playing long hopeful balls into this area (where Tyrone will sweep up with ease). This, generally, has been removed from Derry's play under Cassidy, but was prevalent during the NFL game in Omagh, when Derry kicked susbstantial ball away during a poor first half. Players like Enda Lynn and Barry McGuigan will be tasked with getting fast accurate ball into the full-forward line, with Eoin Bradley spending time in the half-forwards to try and stretch a flexible Red Hands defence.

And this is Tyrone's strength: flexibilty and adaptability. Players for any position. This is why they are so hard to play against, and exactly why Derry must concentrate on their own game - it's impossible to second-guess Mickey Harte's side. Against Monaghan, Derry's planned system of play more or less went out the window, but Tyrone play a different brand, and as such, each Derry player muct focus solely on his task from the throw-in.

It's a big ask, but if this Oakleaf side can produce the necessary work ethic, and prevent Tyrone from finding their flow (we don't care if it ain't pretty!), then Derry have enough talent to win this game, and finally put themselves on the Ulster Final stage.

This is a massive opportunity for Derry to show the rest of the country that they are capable of greater things.

Tyrone Unchanged

Whether or not we can take Mickey Harte's team selection for Sunday at face value is another story, but the Tyrone manager has named an unchanged side for the Ulster semi-final against Derry:

J Devine, PJ Quinn, Justin McMahon, R McMenamin, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, K Hughes, E McGinley, M Penrose, T McGuigan, Joe McMahon, S O'Neill, S Cavanagh, O Mulligan

The headline from this will be that Brian Dooher has to settle for a place on the substitute's bench, but you would have to imagine the Tyrone captain playing a key role at some stage in this game, especially when Harte is going about uttering this kind of stuff:

Brian Dooher is a real rock. He is simply irreplaceable — I don’t know what we are going to do when he decides to call it a day. We are very fortunate to have him as captain and I just wish he was 24 instead of 34.

Luckiest to keep his place is Martin Penrose, and this is probably the position where Dooher or even Colm McCullagh could come in.

After all, Tyrone have a fully-fit squad from which to pick, so you get the feeling we might get a surprise or two yet in their line-up.

We'll not find out until Sunday.

The Sweetest Thing

Finally, after all the talk of suspensions, appeals and injuries, the week of the Tyrone game has arrived, and we can actually look forward to a game of football (at least, that's what we've been promised).

And no better game to look forward to than one against the Red Hands. The old enemy. If there's a game you don't want to lose... this is it. Any sort of victory tends to be very, very sweet.

There have been some games against Tyrone over the years that we'd rather forget, but in the past twenty years Derry have come out on the right side of some memorable encounters.

1991: (USFC Preliminary Round) Tyrone 1-08 Derry 1-09
It's hard to believe it's been 18 years since Damian Cassidy's last minute goal beat Tyrone at Healy Park. In fact, that's just about all I can remember about that particular game. That, and Adrian Cush's goal shortly after half-time that had Derry on the back foot until Cassidy's last-gasp intervention. It was a hot May day in Omagh, and at the end of it all, Derry were still only the first round proper.

1992: (USFC Preliminary Round) Derry 1-10 Tyrone 1-07
The following year brought another preliminary clash (back in the day when the Ulster Council only bothered holding a draw every two years). It was an all-ticket affair at a scorching Celtic Park, with the game shown live on BBC (a rare thing in those days... possibly the first Ulster SFC game to be televised live).
Dermot Heaney's goal in the opening minutes proved the difference. Eamon Coleman was smiling post-game: "we proved today that we're the better team!" After beating Down in the Ulster semi-final we could almost smell Sam. Shame we forgot about the Anglo-Celt. Donegal took care of that.

1997: (USFC Semi-final) Derry 2-15 Tyrone 2-03
'95 and '96 hurt bad. Actually 1995 probably stills hurts more than most. 1997 brought us back to Clones for the third consecutive year, and Derry dominated a Tyrone side who appeared to lack the heart for another crack at an All-Ireland title. The Oakleafers cantered to a 12-point win. It's hard to know which was the funniest moment from the match: Joe Brolly blowing kisses at the Tyrone fans, or Finbar McConnell knocking Brian Mullins hat off and throwing it away!

2001: (All-Ireland Quarter-final) Derry 1-09 Tyrone 0-07
Arguably the sweetest of all Derry victories over Tyrone. It was a dour contest at Clones, and it appeared that Tyrone were beaten from the second the draw was made, as Derry could exact revenge for an Ulster semi-final defeat a few weeks earlier. Peter Canavan was red-carded and Paddy Bradley bundled the ball just about over the line to clinch victory. Tyrone became the first Ulster champions not to play in an All-Ireland semi-final as the Oakleafers took their place. Sweet indeed!

2006: (USFC First Round) Tyrone 0-05 Derry 1-08
Another sweet victory over the Red Hands. The then All-Ireland champions famously failed to score in the first-half at Healy Park as Derry took a six-point lead. Kevin Hughes saw red for a punch on Liam Hinphey, and Enda Muldoon capitalised on some good work from Paddy Bradley and Barry McGoldrick to score the game's only goal. I've heard it said and seen it written that this was an awful game to watch.

Let's be fair... it was a thing of beauty.

Hurlers Look for Final Chance

It's been something of a topsy-turvy 2009 season for Derry's hurlers. After a decent start to the Division 3 NHL campaign, promotion was not forthcoming following a run of disappointing results. The Christy Ring Cup also came and went with a loss to Kerry swiftly following a facile victory over Wicklow. But Brian McGilligan's side still have a chance to save their season in this weekend's Ulster SHC semi-final against Down.

All year, the Dungiven man has lamented his side's inability to defend effectively, and the shipping of big tallies has led to inevitable defeats. After an NHL defeat to Kildare in March McGilligan claimed that "the couple of free goals in the first half tore the arse clean out of it”; following defeat to Kerry in the Christy Ring Cup three weeks ago he made a similar observation saying that after "a couple of silly mistakes and a couple of bad goals, the backside just fell out of it".

There appears to be a problem in the region of the derriere!

Ironically, against London in the Ulster quarter-final it was Derry who relied on a flurry of goals to see off a strong exile challenge (4-10 to 3-12). But Brian still wasn't happy:

"We wouldn’t win a Nicky Rackard on that performance. It was the worst I’ve seen from a Derry team for a long number of years. We were just very lucky to get the goals at the right time."

It's no surprise then that he feels Derry need to show a big improvement to overcome the Mournemen:

"It's going to be a mighty hard task. On the London performance, not a chance."

In Thursday's Irish News, he even goes so far as to say that Derry will need "a miracle" to beat Down. That's one way of getting the player's fired up!

If Derry do manage to win they will set up an Ulster Final clash with Antrim, who will no doubt be fresh after their short-lived appearance in the Leinster SHC.

Cork Can Still Finish Job

It was quite ironic that Cork, who spent most of last year trying to catch up with Kerry (sometimes accomplishing it, but ultimately failing), last Sunday found themselves being chased by the men from the Kingdom. And they were caught. Just about mind, but they were caught nonetheless.

Given the route that the eventual losers of this tie will have to negotiate in the qualifiers, this Munster semi-final is an arguably more important clash than last year's Munster Final. And having got themselves into a winning position, Cork will be right to kick themselves for not finishing the job.

For three-quarters of the game in Killarney Conor Counihan's side displayed power, pace and poise that Kerry couldn't live with. But the Rebels had one problem... their full-forward line just didn't produce the goods. Masters, Goulding and O'Connor, whose physical presence doesn't match that of the rest of the Cork team, struggled against a fairly accomplished showing from the Kerry full-back line, with Marc O Sé at his imperious best. Cork simply couldn't get the scores required to win the game.

It meant that Kerry, who had an off-day in terms of creation and finishing were let off the hook, thanks in the main to some dead-eye cool accuracy from substitute Bryan Sheehan.

It was an exciting game that did much to blow away any bordeom still lingering from the low-quality offering from Breffni Park the evening before, and the good news is that there is a replay to come this weekend.

It will be interesting to see how both sides approach their second battle in six days. There appears to be more questions than answers surrounding Kerry. For Saturday's replay they have named Tommy Griffin alongside Dara O Sé in an all-new midfield pairing. Sunday's hero Sheehan replaces Captain Darran O'Sullivan in the full-forward line while Tadgh Kennelly will continue to find his Championship feet, but this time at left-half forward. Jack O'Connor will hope another game against Cork will resolve some persisting selection issues. A more settled and motivated Rebels side might just have enough resolve to shade it.

The Kingdom wouldn't fancy a treacherous back-door spin, but it might afford them the fine-tuning they need before Croke Park comes calling in late summer.

Casement Makes Little Appeal

We were led to believe that the choice of venue for Derry's Ulster semi-final against Tyrone was between Clones, Casement Park, Ballybofey and Breffni Park. Casement got the nod, but if the decision was left to myself, and patently it was not, Casement Park would probably have been choice number four.

Given the distance required to reach the Donegal and Cavan venues that is saying a lot!

There's probably little point in getting bogged down over the choice of venue, but Casement Park is generally an atmosphere-less ground that offers little excitement and energy. Clones, for all its faults, is a decent Championship venue. It has ampled seating, plenty of which is covered, and the town itself is a welcoming one for match-goers.

Casement Park has the so-called advantage of "getting away quickly", but this tells us more about the surrounding area - devoid of any GAA soul - than anything else.

Of course, Tyrone players and fans will have to endure Casement too, so it's a level playing field for both sides. But I feel the need to alert you - if you were not already aware - of Derry's poor record at the West Belfast venue.

Since 1993, when Derry overcame Monaghan at the Ulster semi-final stage, the only team the Oakleafers have beaten at Casement is Antrim. And even that hasn't been the formality it should be, with the width of Anthony Tohill's fingertips saving Derry from its darkest day in 2000.

One of Derry's worst recent displays came at Casement in 2003, when a rampaging Tyrone tore through the Oakleafers in a first-round replay to record a 9-point victory.

In 2007, Casement was also the scene for one of the most miserable days any Derry supporter has had to suffer. And Derry weren't even playing! A cold and wet June day rendered the first-round clash with Antrim unplayable due to a waterlogged pitch. The announcement came about twenty minutes before the match was due to throw-in, and any Oakleaf fans unfortunate enough to be there had already endured an insufferable Ulster Hurling Final between Antrim and Down.

Barely three weeks later, and we were back again for another fun-filled Sunday afternoon in Andersonstown. Derry started as favourites against Monaghan in the Ulster semi-final. Enough said.

Derry's 10 year Championship record at Casement Park:

1999: Derry 2-15 Cavan 2-15
2000: Antrim 2-08 Derry 0-14
2000: Antrim 2-05 Derry 1-17 (replay)
2001: Antrim 0-07 Derry 0-10
2002: Antrim 0-06 Derry 0-16
2002: Tyrone 1-17 Derry 1-12
2003: Tyrone 0-17 Derry 1-05 (replay)
2005: Armagh 1-11 Derry 0-10
2007: Antrim 0-10 Derry 1-13
2007: Monaghan 0-14 Derry 1-09

Perhaps this poor record is where the root of my antipathy for Casement Park really lies. I will probably have slightly more time for the venue if Derry manage to beat Tyrone there next Sunday.

Morrison Riled by Programme

Football is no stranger to poor excuses after a team loses a match. We've heard all manner of stuff coming out of the mouths of managers, players and coaches in the aftermath of defeat.

Blaming the absence of players through injury or suspension is a pretty popular one. Some managers might put defeat down to a series of missed chances or poor defending.

The poor state of some pitches also gets an airing in post match interviews, while a bad refereeing performance could also bear the brunt.

Sometimes you might even get the odd player or manager putting a defeat down to plain bad luck.

Not John Morrison.

After their defeat to Roscommon at the weekend, Leitrim's assistant manager didn't blame his players, the officials, or even the weather.

Nope. He blamed the matchday programme!

Morrison has cited an article in the programme outlining Leitrim's poor home record as a contributing factor to the side's "lack of self-belief":

"Who put those articles in the programme? ‘Leitrim never win at home’, ‘Leitrim have never beaten Roscommon’ and so on. They might have just said ‘lie down there until we whip you again’. The mindset and perception has to change in Leitrim and the likes of that programme do little to change attitudes."

Translating the publishing of these (factual) statistics into a possible reason for defeat surely borders on ridiculous.

The programme pointed to Leitrim's record at Carrick-on-Shannon that contained only seven wins in 49 games.

You can make that 50 games now John.

It's Tyrone

It was something of a relief to spend Sunday afternoon watching a game that didn't involve Derry or Monaghan. The coverage the game received last week reached saturation point, and as I have outlined already most of it was over-the-top hyperbole.

So when switching on The Sunday Game to see Tyrone take on Armagh, it was something of a surprise to hear Pat Spillane and Colm O'Rourke still talking about the game at Celtic Park. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. The duo were making a point about how their own reaction to the match was totally justified.

What was it that Shakespeare said about those who protest too much?

Anyway, this week's game at Clones seemed to have sufficient footballing entertainment and excitement to please the quality assessors at RTÉ, and Ulster football breathes again.

Despite only playing well in patches, Tyrone always appeared to be in control of the game, and when going eight points up early in the second half they probably (at least sub-consciously) eased off a little. Armagh did well to close the gap, but late points from Stephen O'Neill and Brian Dooher outlined the extra quality Mickey Harte has at his disposal.

Tyrone's victory sets up what will be an eagerly-anticipated Ulster semi-final against Derry on June 21st. Tyrone will be favourites after a comfortable enough win at Clones where they didn't really get anywhere close to their best. That's a worry for Derry; but the Oakleafers have room for improvement themselves.

Another worry is the not-totally-unexpected news of suspensions emanating from the Monaghan game at Celtic Park. It looks like Derry have been dealt the rough end with Brian Mullan and Fergal Doherty both expected to be handed eight-week bans. (The good news is that if Derry reach the Ulster Final, both would be free to play.)

Thomas Freeman also looks like picking up an eight-week suspension, while both counties will be hit with €10'000 fines.

That seems particularly harsh... to the point that I've even found myself agreeing with Banty McEnaney who questions the validity of handing out "professional fines" in an amateur sport.

Probably not the last we've heard of all this. The only winners this week appear to be Tyrone.

The Fallout Continues

It seems that the world and his wife have voiced their opinion about Sunday's match at Celtic Park. Most of you will be sick of reading and hearing about, but your friendly blogger has nonetheless attempted to sift through the garbage.

We have been subjected to pontification, hypocrisy and absolute stupidity from some quarters as journalists and high-profile GAA figures try to get their heads around how things could possibly have come to this:

Christy Cooney
"The very good people at the CCCC will do a very good job in dealing with this."

Colm Keys (Irish Independent)
"The dark arts of intimidation, cynicism and general lawlessness were everywhere to be seen."

Martin McHugh
"Cynical and nasty. It had everything that was bad about Gaelic Football."

Martin Breheny (Irish Independent)
"Has there been an apology from either county for bringing the GAA into disrepute?"

Paul Curran
"It was one of the worst games I have watched in many years, that's if you want to call it a game."

Thankfully, some balance has been maintained with a few analysts deciding to employ a sense of logic and reason in the midst of ongoing hysteria:

Paddy Heaney
"Sunday’s game was simply played by the unwritten rules of Gaelic football. There were sinners on both sides. Big deal."

Kevin Madden
"It wasn’t pretty. But it was never going to be, nor was it meant to be."

Owen Mulligan
"The reaction was a bit over the top. You will do anything to win."

Rory Gallagher
"Derry will move on happy that they did what had to be done to win the game."

And finally, the irreverent Frank McNally deserves a mention for his Irish Times column in which he suggests that "what we were witnessing was a 40th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of the Bogside".

He's talking more sense than most!

Puke Pundits

Opinion was fairly unanimous in TV-land during the post-game analysis of Derry v Monaghan at Celtic Park. The members of the respective panels on RTÉ and BBC were fairly sure they had just watched an awful game of football between two sides more interested in fighting than playing the ball.

Paddy Heaney does an excellent job in today's Irish News of questioning what these so-called analysts expected from Sunday's game, and how the physicality shown is something that has been entrenched in our games since Mrs Hayes doors were first darkened all those years ago.

Why were Jarlath Burns, Pat Spillane and co. so surprised?

This was always going to be a horrible game, not a fantastic, open contest between two footballing sides. If this was the level of expectation held by these 'pundits', then they haven't got the footballing knowledge to be commenting on the television.

Burns' reacion was a particular mystery. Before the match he had said that the game would be "physical and attritional", so why his jaw sat on the floor in shock at the niggly game he had just witnessed is beyond me.

Aside from the OTT high-moral response from all quarters, it appears that the general level of punditry on the TV is poorer than ever.

It is littered with cliches and lazy, generalistic analysis that offers very little insight into how two teams lined out in order to ultimately win or lose a game.

Two years ago, after the debacle against Monaghan at Casement Park, Martin McHugh labelled Derry a "disgrace", chiefly because of their insipid performance and their inability to utilise the talents of Paddy Bradley. On Sunday, he complained that Derry were "too reliant on the Bradleys".

Sometimes you can't win with these guys! Yes, the Bradleys hit 1-5 between them against Monaghan, but in the last ten minutes, Derry's four unanswered points came from James Kielt (two), Joe Diver and Paddy Bradley. This hardly shows an over-reliance on the Glenullin man. Analysis at its very laziest.

Meanwhile, over on RTÉ, Pat Spillane merely repeated what McHugh said about the Bradleys. That was all he could offer regarding Derry's chances for the remainder of the campaign. He also said Derry "lacked variety" in their play, while Colm O'Rourke opined that overall Derry were a "limited" team.

Perhaps these opinions will be borne out (let's hope not), and at times on Sunday Derry did look limited. But they were limited by an energetic, defensive Monaghan side in an extremely tense and ugly environment. Yet they pulled away for victory. Under the circumstances surely this showed variety enough.

The game will bear little significance to how Derry play during the rest of the summer, and should be treated as such.

It's poor stuff from these analysts who wheel out the same rhetoric depending on whether Derry have won or lost a game. They only supply us with routine, generic drivel that barely comes close to the realm of opinion, and offers little match-insightment for the viewer.

As Paddy Heaney touches on today, Joe Brolly is the only one who seemed to understand what was happening during Sunday's game (sad state of affairs indeed!).The rest are blinded by expecting classics every week.

To Spillane, McHugh, Burns et al: let's get the heads out of the sand lads and start talking sense like you are paid to do.

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Derry Emerge from Celtic Park Cauldron

It was cynical, nasty and at times, downright hateful, but Derry fans will have left Celtic Park yesterday afternoon absolutely delighted.

Because that is what the Championship is about. Winning football games. You can complain about the quality of football, the number of fouls and constant off-the-ball behaviour, but what it boils down to is the result, and in this regard Derry produced the goods against Monaghan.

We're probably hearing it in our sleep at this stage, but Derry needed to stand up and be counted yesterday in order to eradicate the memories of two successive defeats to the Farney men.

This meant fighting fire with fire.

And when Monaghan had finished swallowing the final dose of their own medicine, they could only watch as 14-men Derry turned the screw and showed the necessary quality to close out a victory in the championship melting pot. The dosage was bitter for Banty's men.

Derry started the brighter, but with Paddy Bradley's goal helping create a four point cushion after ten minutes, they couldn't build a match-winning lead. Instead, it was Monaghan, led by Vinny Corey, that began to impress themselves on the game.

The wind in Monaghan's favour was a factor, as the Farney-men set about eating into Derry's lead. McBennett constantly found his men with short kick-outs, and Derry conceded a wealth of possession. Derry's half-forward line struggled to contain the running game of Damien Freeman and Conor McManus, while Stephen Gollogly was proving to be a constant thorn.

Enda Lynn and Paul Murphy had quiet games, and couldn't affect their play-making skills in the tight and intense middle third. Lucky enough, Monaghan missed some gilt-edged scoring chances, and by half-time Derry could count themselves lucky to be going in level.

It had been a dour and nasty struggle, but few of the 10'000 spectators in attendance would have been surprised. Dessie Mone and Dermot McArdle opened with their usual application of jibing and jabbing on the two Bradleys. Thomas Freeman seemed more intent on getting his hands on Kevin McGuckin than the ball, eventually resorting to an apparent head-butt on the Ballinderry man. Dick Clerkin and Fergal Doherty picked up where they left off last July by wrestling and grappling before they both saw yellow cards. Even at the half-time whistle Clerkin decided to continue his antics, and should have received a second yellow-card for a high challenge on Paddy Bradley.

Had these incursions been dealt with, some of the unseemly incidents witnessed later in the game could have been prevented.

Monaghan's players have been programmed to systematically foul and spoil (it's gone that far with them that Darren Hughes even thought he could push a Derry spectator off the ball!), but Derry stayed in their faces and did not lie down in the confrontational battles.

After the break, Derry knew that the strong breeze could enable them to strike for long-range scores (Eoin Bradley and Barry McGoldrick the early suppliers). But the Monaghan nut still needed cracked. Gerard O'Kane switched to the sweeper role as Barry McGoldrick went man-for-man on Paul Finlay. O'Kane had attacked well in the opening half, but this change provided him with a further licence to roam forward in support of the Derry attack.

Derry were losing the breaking ball battle, but the defence held firm, allowing O'Kane, Chrissy McKaigue and Sean Leo McGoldrick to hit on the counter-attack. Gerard O'Kane in particular was superb in carrying the ball and helping to set up crucial scores.

When Fergal Doherty received his marching-orders with 15 minutes remaining the scores were level. Worrying times. Monaghan brought on Hanratty and Downey in the forwards, but when the chances came their way they were found wanting. Derry raised their game.

The defining score came with seven minutes left on the clock. James Kielt's deadly accurate boot lobbed one between the posts from over 45 yards. The Kilrea man may have been making his championship debut, but he showed quality and composure in the most intense struggle.

The Oakleafers could smell victory. Monaghan continued to double team and spoil runners, but they needed to attack. Derry had snuffed out their Plan A.

Points from Joe Diver and Paddy Bradley gave Derry a three-point cushion heading into stoppage time and the game was up for Banty and his side.

Derry put up a wall to cope with Monaghan's questionable tactics. It is disappointing that they crossed the line themselves, let's not lose sight of that. But Monaghan could not be allowed to walk over this Derry side, and eventually the Oakleafers showed the limits of Seamus McEnaney's team.

Damian Cassidy's senior managerial debut had ended in victory, and in the face of criticism regarding Derry's tactics he offered no apology:

"It was a battle but it was not going to be anything else. People sitting at home may be complaining about the quality of football but we are not in the buisness of entertaining people. We showed the football we can play in the last 15 minutes but up until then it was a physical game and that's what we expect. All we care about is the result and that's all that matters in this game."

There will be more to come from this one. Those sitting above us on that most moral of high grounds will ensure that the necessary bans and fines are handed out. But if the dust ever settles on this particular Ulster SFC clash, we will see that in the end, the team with the greater footballing ability showed the character, determination and quality required to produce a winning result on an extremely hostile playing field.

Surely it can't be as bad the next day?!