Under-21s show promise

Derry's Under-21 side made a successful start to their Ulster SFC campaign at Celtic Park last night with a comfortable win over Monaghan (3-12 to 1-3). Winning by a sizeable margin of fifteen points, it was one of those victories that will have people talking about possible Ulster titles and like. But we in Derry don't do expectation very well so it's probably best if we dampen our excitement for a while yet, after all it was only the first round.

Still, after a difficult start to the week - with defeats for both St. Pat's Maghera in the MacRory Cup Final and St. Columb's Derry in the McLarnon decider - this was an encouraging result for the Oak Leaf underage setup. An energetic Derry side attacked the Monaghan defence like a Tory Chancellor attacking pensioners in a spring Budget, and it quickly paid off, with goals from Fergal Duffin and Emmett McGuckin helping the home side to an eleven point half-time lead. The job had been done right there. Another goal from McGuckin in the second half didn't so much put the tie to bed as kill it stone dead.

Invariably when the Under-21 Championship comes around, people will rewind the clock back three years and predict the outcome of the forthcoming games based on how the respective teams fared at minor level (and express surprise when the results are wildly different). Nothing could be more irrelevant. Squads will have changed, management teams changed and the form and experience levels of the players will be different. The minor Championship is played off on Sundays during the summer. The Under-21 equivalent is shoe-horned into Wednesday evenings in March and April with teams being bussed to the far end of the province after a day's work (or a day at University). Totally different animals.

Last night's game in Celtic Park was a case in point. Back in 2009 Derry played at home to Monaghan in the Ulster MFC. It was a disappointing result for the Oak Leafers, as they lost by 1-12 to 0-10. Fast forward three years and the tables had turned completely. 2009 was also the year Armagh won the All-Ireland Minor title. Last night, the Orchard-men lost their under-21 encounter against Cavan. The Breffni county have showed steady progress at underage level over the past few years, winning both the Minor and Under-21 Ulster titles in 2011. That type of gradual improvement and lifting of silverware at different levels is a better indicator of who might succeed in the month or two ahead, and have subsequent success at senior level.

Speaking of Cavan, Barry Dillon's side will face them in the Ulster semi-final in two weeks time (April 4th at Brewster Park, Enniskillen). That will represent a step up in class in terms of opposition and will give us a better idea of how good this promising Derry Under-21 side really is.