Experimentation Continues

The following is the Derry team to face Westmeath on Sunday at Ballinascreen: B Gillis, B Óg McAlary, SM Lockhart, G O'Kane, P Cartin, B McGoldrick, C McKaigue, F Doherty, J Diver, E Lynn, J Kielt, B Mullan, E Brown, E Bradley, P Bradley

Despite this line-up showing seven changes from the side that started in Ballina, it is by no means an eye-brow raising fifteen. One standout selection however, is that of Barry McGoldrick at centre-half back. It remains to be seen whether this particular experiment is designed to cope specifically with Westmeath's two-man full-forward line, or if the Derry management have long term plans to play the Coleraine man in this pivotal position. McGoldrick certainly has the intelligence and footballing ability to play a sweeper-like role, but Sunday will provide a stern test of his credentials.

Damian Cassidy's NFL experimentation continues unabated. Brian Mullan gets a deserved start in the half-forward line, while James Kielt will open at centre-forward. In the full-forward line, Eoghan Brown and Paul Bradley will get the opportunity to show-off their scoring prowess. These changes don't come as any real surprise. Speaking this week in the Irish News, Cassidy was extolling the virtues of using the league to "take a few chances":

“I could play safe and go out and pick as many of our established players as possible to try and squeeze a win. We could do that. But what would we learn that we don’t already know? We will have learned nothing at all. This year it’s very important that our emerging players be given a chance to develop their experience."

The Bellaghy man is clearly intent on increasing the size of Derry's squad; an absolute necessity if we are to compete with the likes of Kerry and Tyrone, who have a vast personnel ready to be used at will. With players of the calibre of Kevin McGuckin, Paddy Bradley, Patsy Bradley, Joe O'Kane and Barry McGuigan sitting on the Derry bench on Sunday, a clear depth is emerging.

But Westmeath, who go in as underdogs on Sunday, will present Derry with an extremely tough challenge. They sit deep, defend in packs, and try and create space for the dangerous forward duo of Denis Glennon and Dessie Dolan. They are probably the closest thing to Monaghan in terms of their tactics (and Derry could certainly do with practice in that regard!). The Midlanders show two changes from the side defeated by Galway in Round 1, and manager Tómas O'Flaharta expects a difficult challenge:

"I think Derry are one of the teams who everyone will have to keep an eye on for this year. We’re going to be up against it, but we just to keep improving ourselves. We only started four or five weeks ago and Galway showed a few weaknesses in us the last day and we’re trying to work on those.”

O'Flaharta was talking the Westmeath Independent. It's always nice to get a perspective from the opposition county, but in doing so it may be best to ignore the Westmeath Examiner. Their meagre NFL coverage is buried deep beneath headlines about 'Lakeside Wheelers' cycling club, and an U13 soccer blitz that was called off due to snow! Maybe they just don't fancy their county's chances.

Neither do I. With the quality available throughout the Derry squad, I fully envisage an Oakleaf win on Sunday. However, Westmeath have shown in the past how difficult they are to beat, so don't expect it to be comfortable.