A blog post written by Conán from SC1 Sports Blog.
I remember leaving the Creighton Hotel bar, in Clones, during extra-time of Ireland’s World Cup Second Round encounter against Spain back in 2002. Robbie Keane had done it again: a 90th minute equaliser put another 30 minutes on the clock at a stage in which the Republic were beginning to dominate against the 10 man Spaniards. We, as a country, were headed towards one of the most exciting, nerve-racking moments in our sporting history. I, as an individual, was headed towards St. Tiernach’s Park on the unforgiving incline of Church Hill to take my unsheltered seat in miserable conditions.
I watched a tight, yet lifeless, match unfold before a meek 7,000 crowd through the pouring rain as Derry were sent packing by an underwhelming Donegal outfit. I remember the bangs on our umbrella from the classless west coast man behind us every time the magnificently overrated Brendan Devenney did anything of note. I remember the obscenities I directed towards him and his entire county (forgetting that half my family are from Tír Chonaill). I left, a broken man (I later heard that Ireland were defeated on penalties).
4 years later, I trekked to Monaghan for the same fixture to witness Muldoon, one of my favourite ever footballers, being provoked and scammed by a Donegal full back who would later go on to be my club manager (I don’t think I ever forgave him). The green and gold (a disgusting combination while we’re at it) netted with just their second score of the game and Derry failed to break the three point margin for the rest of the tie. I also remember the heartbreak of Ballybofey just two years ago when young Enda Lynn missed a sure-fire opportunity to tie the game with the last kick in extra time.
Having read Gaelic Life’s Ronan Scott recently write about how Derry men recall only fond memories of Donegal beaches and pleasantries, I couldn’t help but think how wide of the posts he really was.
Of course, we all love a trip to Donegal – its coastline is one of the best in the world. And, sure, I like a holiday there as much as the next man – heck, I was there yesterday catching sunrays in the Atlantic Ocean off Ballyliffin. I love its scenery, its air, its atmosphere – and I can just about put up with my Donegal mother. But when it comes to football, these things don’t cross my mind – not even for a second. And when writers claim that these things will hinder the motivation of athletes much greater than myself, then there is something truly naïve about that.
Just like an Irish man who has holidayed in the beautiful Cornwall won’t have his motivation to beat England deterred; just like the English natives who can recall fond memories of Highland excursions won’t care less about dominating Scotland; just like the Crossmaglen family who visit Portaferry won’t surrender any easier to County Down, when it comes to sport, when it comes to Gaelic Football, we are at war and we care only for ourselves.
Those Ulster Semi Final defeats hurt – they hurt badly. Leaving Donegal with our tails between our legs in the latest Championship clash between the two counties was hard to take. Watching Daniel O’Donnel-county stroll to victory in Celtic Park this year, as if they had perfected an unbeatable formula, was unacceptable. And it is these aspects, on top of a simple longing for my own county to succeed, are what fuel the flame of desire to knock Karl Lacey back to the corner where he belongs; to treat Paul Durkan with the lack of respect in which he merits; to expose Anthony Thompson for the clumsy hellion that he is; to see how Kevin Cassidy can cope when he is on the back foot; if Rory Kavanagh has the stomach for it; to bring Colm McFadden down a peg or five; and to reinstate the belief that electing Michael Murphy as county captain at 21 was typical of Donegal to buy into the hype and set themselves up for a downfall.
Not withstanding the fact that Derry will line out on Sunday with McGuckin shielding the goals, Muldoon roaming midfield, and Deets continuing to terrorise up front – a Ballinderry-inspired spine, a solid core, a winning mentality. Men who don’t give a single thought to their childhood holidays, to their Donegal associations, when they step onto a football pitch – because their only objective as sportsmen on Sunday, like it has been for over 20 years now, is to win a game of football. Mark Lynch won’t run any less aggressively because he might have visited Buncranna once or twice; Gerard O’Kane, a county minor and Hogan Cup winning captain, won’t lead from the back less ruthlessly because he may have spent a few nights in Bundoran; to say these men would have been better to play Tyrone because they would be more “up for it”, because they have fond thoughts about the north west of Ireland, is to disrespect them as footballers, to undermine them as winners, on every level.
Besides, this is an Ulster Final for crying out loud. It wouldn’t matter if Bellaghy were taking on Ballinderry, if Boca were playing River Plate, the primary motivation of any team is to walk away with Championship success regardless of who they are playing and that, alone, will ensure that the intensity and fire of this encounter will be as maxed and heated as the most fuel-filled derby you can imagine.
Bradleys
At first, I felt sorry for myself. I couldn’t believe that the first time in over a decade we have reached a provincial final and we are without the services of two of the most prolific forwards in the country. The problem of replacing Paddy seemed to go miraculously smoothly, but then we are faced with the gauntlet of preparing for life-after-Eoin as the man who effortlessly tallied 1-05 from play in an Ulster Semi-Final (this feat should in no way be understated) suffered a heartbreaking knee injury at the weekend. Then I realised that two of the players – Paddy in particular – who have provided years of service, endless reels of joy, and floods of sweat for their county – and they done it all in the face of blanket defences, in the cruelties of being double marked, pin-pointed, pulled, harried, punched, dragged – won’t get the opportunity to play on this stage on the 17th July, and they won’t get the opportunity to collect Championship silverware for the first time in county colours.
Replacing the Bradleys: Impossible. Winning without them: Doable.
All the talk seems to be aimed at who is coming off the bench to replace the Glenuilin sharp-shooter. Will Emmet McGuckin get the nod? Could the lively Decky Mullan be recalled once more? The favourite tag seems to reside with Lavey’s Cailean O’Boyle who could come in and out of full-forward more naturally than the other two.
But, for me, the solution is simple. Gerard O’Kane is back and raring to go and should be included without hesitation. Introducing the former skipper into the back line would allow Sean Leo McGoldrick to be freed from his defensive duties (granted that Brennan uses Ciaran Mullan and not Gerard to replace McAlary from the starting 15). Why don’t we utilise Sean Leo in the half forward line where he has been in devastating form this year, where he forced the first half substitution of Conor Gormley, where he wants to be played; and then opt for Mark Lynch at the edge of the square?
Yes, Lynch had an absolute stormer the last day, allowing to roam the half forward line, running from deep and playing delightful balls in front of our full forwards. But he was also inside for periods of the game and whichever position he is selected in, he is still Mark Lynch. The Banagher man’s quality is the only one which can be deemed worthy to fill Skinner’s void.
Blanket Defence
If I was to pick on the Gaelic Life writers even further, I would point to the fact that some of them explained that Derry would find it more difficult against Donegal than they would Tyrone because of the numbers the Ballybofey men get behind the ball. But don’t Brian Dooher and Peter Harte pop up on the 13 yard line for Tyrone? Doesn’t McGuigan come deep? Hughes, Penrose, Cavanagh? Tyrone have mastered that system long before any of us copped on and they used this to their advantage claiming three All-Ireland titles in just 6 campaigns. Besides, this is 2011, and every player in Ireland has, at some stage, come against a “blanket defence”.
Experts say you need to kick long range scores – like I seen Philip Jordan, Davy Harte and Sean Cavanagh all do in the Semi-Final against Donegal – that’s fine, we have Lynch, Muldoon, Charlie and James Kielt: next.
Anyone who watched the Tyrone semi will easily agree that the reigning Ulster champions kicked themselves out of the game. Peter Harte missed a handful of routine free kicks and some of the open play chances which went wasted were incredible. I honestly was gobsmacked when Donegal grabbed those two timely goals that they so desperately, desperately needed because they should have been dead and buried. Indeed, it was only in the last ten minutes that the Dún na nGall defence looked strong when a tired and frantic Tyrone outfit foolishly started running the ball into the fleets of gold and green – playing right into their hands.
The ball must go in early or you can forget about attacking at all. This can come from direct runners once the ball is turned over and when you consider the likes of Diver, Lynch and hopefully Sean Leo, we’re laughing. More importantly though, for large periods of the game, there will be only a small window through which Derry can score – a timed phase to work a score before the numbers flock back and the window closes. With some of the best long range passers in the province in Gerard, the Kielts, Muldoon and Gilligan, this window can be opened to Derry much more times than Donegal would like.
And with a vibrant attack who have enough creativity to mix things up, a strong midfield and a tight defence, the Orchard county have enough artillery to paralyse their wanderlust neighbours, overcome injuries and defy history. Derry can finally put to bed this myth of Donegal’s “system”. They can finally show the rest of the country, in the absence of some recent legends, what a ridiculously talented county we are. They can leave Clones on Sunday as the first Derry team to deliver Championship success in this millennium – and in doing so, leave behind a lasting legacy.
Derry all the way man
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