Cassidy Makes Little Case For Defence

Derry will embark on the defence of their NFL crown this Sunday (Feb 1st) when they make the journey West to face Mayo at Ballina. However, new Oakleaf manager Damian Cassidy has been busy stressing how important it is to make Derry a Championship force, and by virtue of this, it is fair to say we are unlikely to see new captain Fergal Doherty get his hands on the Allianz NFL Trophy come April.

In an interview in Tuesday's Irish News, Cassidy announced that Derry's Championship campaign is "only 17 weeks away". This should come as music to the ears of all Derry fans. In a week when the GAA and various media outlets are promoting the beginning of the National League, we have a manager who is only really interested in talking about the Championship. In fact, since his appointment last October, Cassidy has been telling anyone who'd care to listen, about his plans for this Derry team; how he wants to change attitudes and instil a mental belief; make Derry a Championship force. This has been something lacking in Derry sides in recent years, and the Bellaghy man is well aware that mentalities must change before Derry can compete at the highest level.

So where does this leave this year's NFL campaign? Well, in what is an exceptionally strong division, each game will give the Derry management and players a chance to get the Championship wheels in motion; get the required system in place and get the minds ready for May (and June, and July...). League wins in recent years have not served Derry well. We don't need to open up the deep wounds 1995 and 1996 left behind, despite these years producing back-to-back NFL titles. 1992 and 2000 saw defeats in Ulster Finals, whilst 2008's NFL victory (exciting as it was) was the precursor to another forgettable summer.

With games against the likes of Tyrone, Kerry, Dublin and Galway coming thick and fast on the horizon, this promises to be an exciting League campaign. It might not be important in terms of silverware, but it is a very important stepping stone if the loftier ambitions are to be realised. New players will be blooded against the country's finest and we will see Derry play a new style of football. But avoiding relegation will be prize enough. Over in Mayo, Derry's first opponents appear to be thinking the same; certainly if the Western People is to be believed. Damian Cassidy would surely concur.