In recent years Galway have been something of a bogey team for Derry. Certainly on the All-Ireland stage where they beat the Oakleafers in All-Ireland Semi-Finals in 1998 and 2001. Add in a couple of All-Ireland Club Semi-Final defeats for Derry sides against opposition from the Tribes County (Dungiven v Corofin and Loup v Caltra) and something resembling an Indian sign begins to appear.
In the NFL however, things haven't been so bad. Derry recorded
victories over Galway in 2006 and 2007, before a defeat at Salthill during last season's campaign prevented the Oakleafers from recording three successive victories.All history now. The current crop of Derry Senior footballers will be concentrating this weekend on gleaning another couple of league points, and it is Galway who stand in their way. The Tribesmen are the current in-form team in the country. They sit top of Division 1 and have swept aside challenges from the likes of Dublin, Tyrone and Donegal.
While Derry have also recorded comfortable victories in this campaign, Sunday's game at Glen will provide them with a truer examination of their credentials as the hectic league programme continues at pace. And the frenzied nature of the current NFL schedule has brought four changes to the lineup that outplayed Dublin last weekend at Parnell Park.
Fergal Doherty, Kevin McGuckin, Sean Lockhart and Enda Lynn all carry minor knocks and do not feature in Sunday's squad. Damian Cassidy correctly sees little point in risking these players, and their absence will allow him to view a few other options in his panel.
Kevin McCloy and Ryan Dillon come into a defence that will try and shackle the ace marksman in Ireland at this moment - Michael Meehan. It is likely that Dillon will be asked to carry out the unenviable task of trying to mark the Caltra man. It is a chance for the Swatragh player to stake a claim for a more regular place in the side, but he will come up against a forward who notched 1-9 last week against Donegal. Derry's system will concentrate on trying to cut out the supply - the full-back line will hope they succeed!
Patsy Bradley will partner Enda Muldoon in midfield, and Paul Young replaces Lynn at right half-forward. The Loup man suffered an injury prior to last Saturday's game in Dublin, and he will be keen to make use of this week's chance.
Derry's forward unit impressed most in the Capital last weekend, and Oakleaf fans will hope that Eoin Bradley continues in that hot vein of form. But it is Galway's attacking prowess that worries ahead of the the game at Glen. Along with Meehan there is Sean Armstrong, Padraig Joyce and Cormac Bane to contend with. There are formidable playmaking and striking options in their forward unit and Derry's new look defence will have their work cut out.
Donegal faltered against them last week as Galway recorded an easy victory, yet manager Liam Sammon wants to see improvements for the trip to Maghera:
"Going up to Derry next week we'll have to make a big improvement if we are to beat them up there. Certainly that performance [against Donegal] wouldn't produce a win against Derry."If Derry win on Sunday they will go level on points with Galway, but it is a big ask. Liam Sammon has added a meaner streak to this side - noticeable especially in their victory against Tyrone in Omagh - and when coupled with the lethal attacking options at his disposal, it is clear that Galway will provide an unsettled Derry side with an extremely tough challenge.
It is a game to look forward to though, and Damian Cassidy will once again use a game against top opposition to try and increase the strength of his squad. A win would be a bonus.
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