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)