Sport

Derry given chance to scout potential Leinster opposition

Derry will have a chance to get the Ulster SFC defeat to Tyrone out of their system when they play the losers of Louth v Meath in the All-Ireland Qualifiers next weekend  
Derry will have a chance to get the Ulster SFC defeat to Tyrone out of their system when they play the losers of Louth v Meath in the All-Ireland Qualifiers next weekend   Derry will have a chance to get the Ulster SFC defeat to Tyrone out of their system when they play the losers of Louth v Meath in the All-Ireland Qualifiers next weekend  

PADDY CROZIER won’t be the only Derry man in Parnell Park this Sunday. The former Derry manager is part of Louth’s backroom team plotting Meath’s downfall in the Leinster Championship.

After Tuesday’s Qualifier draw paired Derry with the losers of Sunday’s game, there will be an Oak Leaf delegation heading south on a scouting mission ahead of Saturday week’s opening game through the backdoor.

Derry assistant-manager Brian McGuckin confirmed he will join Damian Barton and Tony Scullion as the trio run their eye over Meath and Louth. McGuckin’s initial reaction to the draw was short and unassuming.

“It’s a tough draw, genuinely,” he said.

After needing Ryan Bell’s point snatch to a draw when the sides met in the league, the Royals’ credentials are fresh in the memory: “Obviously, we have experienced playing Meath this year, so we are very aware of the challenge they will bring," McGuckin added. 

“Louth have had a pretty good league campaign and I’m sure they are going into Sunday’s game full of confidence - so it’s very hard to predict at this stage who we’ll play.”

Defeat is cruel, but McGuckin pulls no punches about Derry’s lacklustre performance which saw them comprehensively disposed of by Tyrone in the Ulster Championship: “The Tyrone game was a very disappointing day at the office," he said. 

"We have regrouped from then and we really are looking at the Qualifiers as an opportunity to redeem ourselves and to instil a wee bit of pride back into the jersey - something that we certainly lacked up at Celtic Park.”

On Tuesday night, Derry played Antrim in a challenge game, the Oak Leaf squad’s first time "really getting together" since their Ulster championship exit: “They have been back with their clubs for the last fortnight," McGuckin said. 

"We met up twice last week, but it was very fragmented to tell you the truth because there was club league games being played last week as well." 

The interim saw three full rounds of league activity. Mark Lynch limped out of the Tyrone clash, but has played all three of Banagher’s games. Mark Craig has recovered fully and has been in scoring form for Dungiven, chipping in with 0-5 from wing-back in the previous three games and will also put himself in contention.

The news isn’t as promising for Craig’s club-mate: “Kevin Johnston is out with a tear in his hip. It happened against the Loup and he injured it further [against Tyrone], so it’s total rest for four to six weeks,“ said McGuckin.

The Derry assistant boss clarified the speculation surrounding Ballinderry’s Ryan Bell: “Ryan is going on holidays, but is committed to Derry for the next game. He will, however, be unavailable if we get beyond Meath or Louth.”

McGuckin confirmed skipper Chrissy McKaigue picked up a one-match ban following his dismissal against Tyrone, but has three club games under his belt since: “Chrissy will miss first round of the Qualifiers and will be back for the round after that - if we’re successful.”

With Enda Lynn out of the reckoning, his Greenlough team-mate and U21 star Niall Loughlin looks doubtful: “Niall had come back and played one game, hurt himself and the likelihood is that he will miss out as well,” added McGuckin.

“Sean Leo [foot injury] is also a major injury doubt. He played against Glen the week after the Tyrone game and had to come off during the game and is going to be extremely doubtful for the game in a fortnight’s time.”

After the hurt, disappointment and soul-searching following the Tyrone defeat, McGuckin indicated Derry need to file it into the past. It’s about the next step now: “We’ll build from now, obviously knowing the draw, or having an idea who we are going to play gives us a better understanding of how we want to move forward.”

SFC QUALIFIER DRAW


Round 1A (Saturday, June 18): Laois v Armagh (O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 3.30pm, live on RTÉ); Derry v Louth/Meath (Owenbeg, 5pm); Carlow v Wicklow (Netwatch Cullen Park, 7pm); (Sunday, June 19): Leitrim v Waterford (Carrick-on-Shannon, 2pm)


Round 1B (June 25/26): Down v Longford, Antrim v Limerick, Offaly/Westmeath v London, Wexford v Fermanagh/Donegal


The CCCC will confirm details for round 1B next week.