Move forward twelve months and some topics are still appearing on a weekly basis, but none as positive as last year's. Instead we find ourselves lamenting one poor Derry
performance after another and asking the same question: "where is it going wrong?".It's tempting to say that the rot began straight after the win against Tyrone, but with extenuating circumstances surrounding the defeats to Dublin and Kerry, it seems the malaise kicked in the week leading up to the Mayo game. Two defeats had done nothing for the confidence ahead of an important home game, and form couldn't be switched on automatically. Derry would have to build it up over the course of the 70 minutes against Mayo. It didn't happen. The reason being that Mayo were flying, confidence high, and ready to rock from the first throw-in. A flat-footed Derry couldn't recover.
And worse yet, the campaign's seminal tie - against a hungry, sharp Monaghan side - was only seven days away. Last year, Derry spent all of the winter and all of the spring preparing - physically and mentally - to meet Monaghan's challenge in the Championship head-on. Derry obviously won out in the end (just about), but on their current form, a week was never going to be enough to provide the requisite challenge to take on and beat the Farney men. What followed was inevitable. The Oakleafers were shown up to lack the hunger, fight and determination that Monaghan possessed in spades. When Thomas Freeman's goal opened up a four-point lead mid-way through the first-half, there was only one likely winner. Derry couldn't respond and Monaghan's tails were up. Conor McManus was scoring at will, and Derry were totally dominated at midfield.
It's as disappointing as Derry have been in a long time, and it's been a while since they've trailed by eleven points in any game. Like last week against Mayo, the final scoreline flattered Derry. They were outplayed all over the pitch. The defence struggled against a lively attack, (although their cause was not helped by the quality of supply coming from Monaghan's midfield and half-back line). Derry's forwards had another day to forget, kicking wides and missing chances that nearly made the Kerry performance look prolific.
It's hard to fathom however, how Monaghan could look so good, while Derry looked inept and uninterested. Damian Cassidy must be scratching his head at the level of Derry's performances, but he would need to find a resolution sometime soon. Confidence is now at a seriously low ebb, and this coming Saturday Derry will face the country's in-form side, Cork. The Rebels have recently been installed as favourites for the All-Ireland, and now is not a good time for Derry to play them. Most of us would probably happily forego any chance of victory in the hope that Derry show significant improvement, and a determination and focus that will at least ask some questions of Cork. But it's hard to look forward to at this stage.
The good news is that we are still only in March, and there is time to rectify things before the Armagh game on May 16. But, as relegation becomes the increasingly likely scenario, it's surely the least desirable way of approaching the Championship.
Some other thoughts from Sunday's game:
- With Kevin McCloy and Michael McGoldrick injured, changes had to be made in defence; but the swapping and changing we have seen across the team in the past few games just hasn't worked.
- Barry McGoldrick had a difficult day in his first game back at centre-back. This position remains a problem one.
- Kevin McGuckin had his first start of the season also. Derry's third full-back in four games. Another problem position.
- Raymond Wilkinosn looked lively when he came on and should be a starter come May. But Cassidy needs to find the best place to play him. Here's a clue: it's not in the full-forward line.
- Barry Gillis (or Pascal McConnell as the announcer and match programme called him) had a good first half; wasn't much he could have done about Freeman's well-taken goal.
- Maybe the deployment of McManus in the full-forward line for the whole game threw Derry, but he's unlikely to amass ten points again in the foreseeable future.
- Michael Bateson played well when introduced - albeit he was given sufficient sapce to work in - and may be worth another look at wing-forward.
- Declan Mullan's stock is increasing by the week.
- Ladbrokes have installed Derry as 2/7 favourites for relegation. Sperrin Metal or Sperrin Galvanisers would never have done such a thing.
- What a terrible venue Scotstown is for an inter-county game. Younger readers: this is what grounds were like in the 1980s.
No comments:
Post a Comment