Allianz National Football League Division Two: Galway v Derry (tomorrow, Tuam Stadium, 2pm)
WITH their last 12 League games producing five losses, four wins and three draws, the question has to be will the real Derry please stand up?
Damian Barton’s side travel to Tuam to play Galway tomorrow with fans, analysts and, who knows, maybe even the players scratching their heads about just how good or bad they really are.
Any time they look to be on a downward trajectory they seem to be able to pull a win from nowhere, like against table-toppers Kildare in round three. When they look like they are moving in the right direction they clock in a stinker – like the eight-point home loss to Down last time out.
That defeat in Owenbeg has left the Oakleafers in the relegation zone alongside Fermanagh, a situation both will be hoping has changed by the time they clash at Brewster Park in the final round.
If there’s any solace, it comes in the fact that the topsy-turvy nature of Division Two ensures that a win tomorrow would put Barton’s men level on points with the Tribesmen, who are currently in the promotion spots. Derry would need an 18-point win to leap-frog them, though….
Derry’s problems this year seem to stem from defensive vulnerability. They have conceded more than anyone else in the division and have given up goals (six in all) in all four games.
One of those came against Down two weeks ago and the Mournemen had 1-10 on the board before Derry had even raised a flag. Game over.
After the match, assistant manager Brian McGuckin bemoaned the missing work-rate and also the lack of pressure put on the Down shooters as they took aim.
That was bad enough against Down, but to do likewise against a Galway side laced with attacking flair would be criminal and would simply lead to another hefty defeat.
The likes of Conor McAtamney and Emmet McGuckin did try to spark some life into the team against Down, but the barrier at the back was just too easily breached.
That defensive discipline would have been high on the agenda at training this week, and there may be the slightest chance that Slaughtneil trio Brendan Rogers, Chrissy McKaigue and Karl McKaigue could be back to offer some resolve back there.
The obvious thought process would be that the players would like some time off after their All-Ireland final loss to Dr Croke’s yesterday, but they are players that are addicted to competition and they might just want to get the game out of their system as quickly as possible.
Even if the Robert Emmet’s men are on the panel, it appears to be a huge ask for Derry at Tuam Stadium.
Kevin Walsh’s side haven’t been exceptional this season by any stretch of the imagination, but they have been able to produce spells of real quality.
Their third-quarter showings in the draw with Cork and the victory over Fermanagh and their first half in the win over Clare were all examples of how good this team can be if they click with players like Shane Walsh, Barry McHugh and Eamon Brannigan combing well.
The problem for Walsh is consistently producing that form over 70 minutes as opposed to 15 or 20 minutes.
That will be the main aim tomorrow and with the Derry defence proving so accommodating this year, there is a real chance that they could rack up another big score.
Derry fans will have little expectations tomorrow, and although the team has been compounding predictions all year, for better and for worse, this is one match that should go to script.
Galway: R Lavelle; D Kyne, D Walsh, C Sweeney; G O’Donnell, G Bradshaw, L Silke; P Conroy, F O Curraoin; T Flynn, M Daly, E Brannigan; S Walsh, B McHugh, M Lundy
Derry: TBA
