Football

Derry and Tyrone prepare for McKenna Cup rumble

Mark Lynch starts in midfield for Derry on Sunday afternoon
Mark Lynch starts in midfield for Derry on Sunday afternoon Mark Lynch starts in midfield for Derry on Sunday afternoon

Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section A: Derry v Tyrone


(Sunday, Owenbeg, 2pm)

AT HIS unveiling as Derry’s new manager at the end of September, Damian Barton spoke to the media for 31 minutes. It was an enlightening first interview.

Upon leaving Owenbeg, reporters were left in no doubt about Barton’s no-nonsense approach to the job. Heaven help the player, we mused, who arrives five minutes late for one of his training sessions. The “lazy attitude” had to go, there would be more asked of the players, there would be no juggling codes and a new style of football would be implemented.

He wanted players to express themselves. Barton’s worldview is unashamedly black and white: "I have one chance to get the first year of this job right,” he said.

That’s why the McKenna Cup matters more to new managers such as the Newbridge man. And there was plenty of urgency about Derry's opening clash against Antrim last weekend, when they racked up 4-16. Tactically, Derry were on a different level from Antrim, who it must be noted were severely weakened by university call-ups.

Still, there were enough hints about Derry's new approach to encourage the home support. They opted for the short kick-out quite a bit, but got the ball into their imposing full-forward line quite quickly, which paid handsome dividends.

While Barton is big into self-expression, he's not immune to the defensive realities of the modern game. They hit 3-12 from open play, but they still played the entire game with a sweeper (Chrissy McKaigue) and had a sprinkling of stay-at-home defenders (Dermot McBride, Joe Morgan and Karl McKaigue).

It was the attacking thrust of wing-backs (Liam McGoldrick and Danny Heavron) and Derry's ability to dominate the midfield skies that helped them establish a strong lead against Antrim that they never looked like surrendering.

But with respect to Antrim and Queen's, who also feature in Section A, the January test Derry have been most looking forward to is Tyrone at Owenbeg on Sunday afternoon. The new Oak Leaf management team will receive a more accurate barometer of their squad than they did seven days earlier. They've shuffled their pack by making eight changes to the side that dismissed Antrim.

Two-goal ace Shane Heavron makes way for Dungiven's Conor Murphy in the full-forward line, while Benny Heron and Christopher Bradley come in to make up a new-look half-forward line. A second-half substitute last Sunday, Mark Lynch earns a start in midfield in place of Conor McAtamney to partner the impressive Emmet Bradley. Ryan Ferris, Oisín Duffy and Mark Craig are also new starters in defence and goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl steps aside for Thomas Mallon.

Likewise, this will be Tyrone’s favourite McKenna Cup fixture. Unlike some previous McKenna Cup campaigns, these are real auditions taking place in Mickey Harte’s squad in 2016.

As is frequently the case, a lot of McKenna Cup line-ups look like panellists merely keeping starting berths warm for more established names. Not this year. At least not in Tyrone. The 2015 all-conquering U21 side ensures there is nothing phoney about this year’s McKenna Cup auditions.

Last year, Mark Bradley, Conor Meyler, Cathal McShane and Ruairí Brennan graduated to Mickey Harte’s squad, some of whom ended up winning regular spots in the team. Given those heady experiences, that quartet should expect to push on in 2016.

And they’re not alone. All-Ireland U21 winner Pádraig Hampsey is another intriguing addition and looks to have the physical profile and skill-set for the full-back role. He gets another chance to impress against Derry and will be tested by Ryan Bell and Emmett McGuckin. Lee Brennan is another precocious talent from the U21 class, who adds more competition to Harte’s forward options.

Last season’s U21 captain Kieran McGeary should see 2016 as his graduation year. He pushes up from his regular wing-back role to wing-forward on Sunday afternoon. Harte will run the rule over Ardboe teenager David Mulgrew, while Patrick Quinn at corner-forward and Dromore’s Niall Sludden at wing-back will be keen to impress in this derby clash.

Notably, Darren McCurry, an unused sub last Sunday in Tyrone’s win over Queen’s, starts in attack, as does Connor McAlliskey. Justin McMahon comes in at centre-back and, while Conor Clarke is named at an unfamiliar wing half-back position, he might be needed to mind one of Derry’s powerful full-forwards.

Allstar Mattie Donnelly is also expected to be among the Tyrone subs tomorrow. Derry-Tyrone battles are always feisty. Tomorrow’s clash at Owenbeg will be no different.

TEAM NEWS


Derry: T Mallon; R Ferris, D McBride, O Duffy; D Heavron, C McKaigue, M Craig; E Bradley, M Lynch; C McFaul, C Bradley, B Heron; E McGuckin, R Bell, C Murphy.


Tyrone: M O’Neill; A McCrory, P Hampsey, J Munroe; C Clarke, J McMahon, N Sludden; P McNulty, R Donnelly; D Mulgrew, P Harte, K McGeary; D McCurry, C McAlliskey, P Quinn.