Navan victory eases pressure

Looks like we got Meath at the right time then. Whether it was a St. Patrick's Day hangover, a Cheltenham hangover or a struggle to come to terms with the loss of Joe Sheridan, who knows, but it was beneficial to Derry's cause on Sunday. Meath have played a lot better in recent weeks, and that's not to take away from a solid effort from John Brennan's men, but Derry will probably play better and lose games.

That's the thing about the league, especially when the GAA decide that playing four games in successive weeks is acceptable. Teams will weaken or strengthen from one week to the next, and there have been enough extenuating circumstances surrounding the Derry squad so far this season, that we know about these peaks and troughs more than most. So, when a chance to claim a win and collect two points comes your way, it's best if you gratefully accept. That's exactly what the Oak Leafers did in Navan.

We've provided something of a stumbling block to Meath in recent NFL seasons. Last week, this blog looked back at our greatest NFL victory over the Royal county (and in the absence of any Championship victories over them, it probably ranks as our best ever win against Meath), and in many respects Sunday's match in Pairc Tailteann resembled the pattern of the NFL Final replay victory at Clones some twelve years ago. The best football was played in the opening half, though this time Derry went in at the break leading by a single point. While as the second half progressed, Derry gradually got on top of their opponents, with Meath's inability to score eventually helping Derry get over the line with a little bit to spare.

By the time Stephen Bray had kicked the sides level at 0-7 apiece to open the second half it looked like the game would be nip and tuck for the remainder of the seventy minutes. Nothing had encapsulated the end to end nature of the scoring pattern up until that point more than the personal shoot-out Bray and Paddy Bradley were in the process of carrying out - with both men having scored four of their side's tally. Thoughts might have turned to 2007, the year these two forwards both won All-Star awards. Yet here we were, five years later with both players at the top of their game and still carrying the scoring fight for their respective counties. Having come back from such a serious injury it's been something of a surprise to see Bradley play so much so far in 2012. Most Derry fans probably would have been happy enough to see him feel his way back into inter-county football, starting maybe a couple of games and featuring in a few others as he works towards full-fitness. But he's played in every NFL game, and has been a hugely influential figure, especially in our two victories. John Brennan was quick to praise the Glenullin man after the game:

"It's incredible that we're playing Paddy Bradley in games when he should be taken off but he wants to play on to get his match fitness up... He won balls today that he had no right to win. Paddy is an outstanding player."

This gives us some indication as to why Bradley has played so many minutes this season.

0-7 each would prove to be the final time the teams were level, with the home side only managing three points during the rest of the game while Derry scored six more. It was down in large part to Meath's wides tally which had totalled 15 by the time the full-time whistle went and was in contrast to the efficiency of Derry in front of goal - exemplified by Patsy Bradley, Brian McCallion and Charlie Kielt coming forward to take scores. Blaine Gormley's ability to put a '45 between the posts helped matters also. Meath were reliant on Bray and Cian Ward to put points on the board.

Most Derry fans will be content with our ability to create and take scores. As has been discussed many times this season, the forward line isn't a problem. The retirement last week of Enda Muldoon is an obvious blow, but with players like Mark Lynch and Eoin Bradley to come in, coupled with Enda Lynn's emergence as a viable roving forward, our options in attack should be plentiful by the time the summer rolls around.

Of more concern is the defence. McCallion, Chris McKaigue and Aidan McAlynn made up the full-back line for the fourth consecutive game. They have settled in resaonbly well since the shock to the system suffered in Healy Park, although the level of opposition hasn't hit those same heights. Whilst the absence of Joe Sheridan helped Derry's cause on Sunday, part of John Brennan might have wished to see how the Derry defence would cope with the big full-forward. Cian Ward isn't the most dynamic or mobile of forwards and Meath struggled to get a direct game going, allowing the Oak Leafers to get numbers back and limit the Royal's scoring opportunities. The respective attacking outlets of Louth and Westmeath (in our next two games) might not replicate what awaits in the summer - for example, consider a forward line containing Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy and Dermot Molloy - so John Brennan might exit this NFL campaign with more questions than answers surrounding his best defensive line-up.

Seamus McEnaney meanwhile will have been left disappointed with his side's third successive defeat, after starting the campaign in a promising fashion. Despite being level with Derry on four points they are now floundering, and with their final two games coming against Tyrone and Louth, they will need to improve considerably. Points will not be given up easy in those contests, with both games carrying at least some historical baggage.

Derry will now be in good spirits heading into this weekend's home game against Louth. Peter Fitzgerald's outfit haven't picked up any points since they drew against Galway in the second game and are in danger of failing to add to their current tally of three points. This game was marked from an earlier stage as our "easiest" game of the NFL - if there can be such a thing, and a win is a must.

The Westmeath game on Easter Sunday increasingly looks like a difficult fixture for us. They have taken a while to get going in the league campaign (a bit like ourselves) - and they may yet rue the dropped two points to Louth in the opening game - but the Lakemen have picked up a bit of momentum with wins against Galway and Monaghan. Despite Garrycastle and Crossmaglen having to replay their All-Ireland club final following a (rather one-sided) draw on Saturday, the Westmeath squad should be bolstered by the services of the likes of Dessie Dolan - especially if they need a result from the game. Even so, they're no world-beaters of course, and they'll still struggle to stay up, but Derry shouldn't be looking at the next two games thinking an automatic four points will fall in front of us. Brennan will guard against that sort of complacency and a lot will depend on how the next round of games fare for all teams involved.

It was a vital win in Navan on Sunday, but we can't afford to take our eyes off the ball.

Some other thoughts from Sunday's game:

• At half-time on Sunday, Westmeath were well on their way towards a comfortable victory over Monaghan, suddenly the stakes at Pairc Tailteann had been raised.
• Patsy Bradley and Blain Gormley's presence added some more physicality to the middle third. That's a requirement if you're to go to places like Meath and come back with a victory.
• Enda Lynn has had an extended run in the side and it's paying dividends. Not an out-and-out scorer, but he provides a very different threat and is at his best running off the shoulder.
• PJ McCloskey and Michael Friel have had a solid partnership lately. It'll be interesting to see if John Brennan decides to mix things up in midfield over the next couple of games.
• It's almost as if Barry Gillis has never been away.
• It is thirteen weeks until Derry open their Ulster SFC campaign, with just two competitive games in between (assuming we don't play in the NFL Division 2 Final). That's almost like a close-season in itself - without a training ban of course.