Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup semi-final: Cavan v Derry
(Sunday, 2pm, Athletic Grounds, Armagh)
YOU can’t help but get the sense that McKenna Cup semi-finals have become more of a distraction than a reward.
Everyone who enters the competition wants the fourth game. Pretty much every county has that stated aim from the first week of January. The problem is that fewer and fewer want the fifth game. Outside of Tyrone, who are going for a fifth successive title, there seems an acceptance that counties would rather keep their powder dry ahead of the start of the National League.
Victory for Cavan on Sunday would potentially leave them facing Tyrone just eight days before the counties meet in their Division Two opener at Kingspan Breffni Park. And while Derry face Fermanagh in their opening league outing, the prospect of coming up against Mickey Harte’s side for what would already be a third meeting this season would hardly entice Damian Barton much.
It’s perhaps overly-cynical to think of the game in that manner. Derry and Cavan, having both secured that fourth game for themselves, will want to make use of it. They will both want a competitive outing. But given the fact these two are down to meet in the league at the beginning of February as well, there will probably be a certain element of withholding cards in Armagh.
Cavan have been impressive so far. They showed they had the stomach for a battle in both their win over future Championship opponents Armagh and Wednesday night’s hard-earned draw with Monaghan. They also displayed no shortage of craft in a handsome win over a strong Ulster University side, who are fancied to move strongly in the Sigerson Cup.
Renowned over the past couple of years for having been overtly defensive, reports are they have been working hard on the attacking side of their game. They netted five times in their first two games and notched a respectable 0-14 against Monaghan. The ‘time of year’ argument could be slightly offset by the rookie make-up of their forward division.
It continues in that vein on Sunday, with David Givney the experienced fulcrum at centre-forward. From the bench, though, they can call upon Eugene Keating, Seánie Johnston, Michael Argue and Gearóid McKiernan among others.
Terry Hyland has continued to shuffle his squad, though 14 of his starting line-up have seen action in the competition with Cavan thus far. The one exception is Killian Clarke - who had been with Ulster University - coming in to the middle of the park alongside Brian Sankey.
Derry’s own attacking play has been an impressive feature as they qualified as the best runner-up from the three groups. Plundering eight goals in their first two games was balanced out by the 0-17 they racked up against Queen’s on Wednesday night.
Oak Leaf coach Brian McGuckin was pleased by that aspect of their play: ”Although we scored four goals at the weekend, we only scored six points on top of them. We made that very clear to the players [before the Queen’s game] that it was something we wanted to rectify, so we’re pleased with the 17 scores,” he said.
McGuckin sees the game as a further chance to assess the credentials of the ranks of new faces on their squad: ”Our aim at the start of the McKenna Cup was to qualify for the semi-final stages. We’re carrying a big squad at the minute, over 45 players, so it’s an opportunity to get everybody game time," he added.
”To tell you the truth, I’ve heard good reports about Cavan. I was chatting to big Cailean O’Boyle, who played against them with Ulster University, and he was highly impressed with them. They were very physical and played a strong counter-attacking game. We’re looking forward to that challenge and we’ll embrace it.”
Damian Barton has thrown returning trio Gareth McKinless, O’Boyle (both Ulster University) and Brendan Rogers (Queen’s) straight into a strong starting line-up. The latter is, interestingly, named at midfield alongside Emmett Bradley, which would be a role unfamiliar to the Slaughtneil man. Ciarán Mullan makes a first appearance of the season at corner-back, while Conor Kearns, after landing five points from play on his debut in midweek, keeps his place in the team.
”Conor had a good game on the front foot, he kicked five from play, so you’d have to be pleased with that,” said McGuckin of Kearns’ display against Queen’s.
“We kicked 0-17 overall, which would please you. Defensively, conceding two poor goals was very disappointing. It was lack of communication for both goals. That’s something we need to look at and improve for Cavan.”
Derry have been setting themselves up with a bit more defensive cover since Antrim racked up 2-12 against them, but have still to keep a clean sheet from four outings this season (including their Ó Fiaich Cup defeat by Tyrone).
Game five of the McKenna Cup awaits for one of these sides and the smart money is on it being against a Tyrone side with whom both are striving to avoid over-familiarity.
Both sides have a fair degree of strength on their benches. How the two managers decide to use that will show how much significance they’re placing on the result. But Derry’s starting 15 looks to have the edge, and the strength of their forward line could have them out of sight before Cavan utilise that bench.
TEAM NEWS
Cavan: R Galligan; J Hayes, K Brady, P Faulkner; C Brady, C Moynagh, N Murray; K Clarke, B Sankey; B Doyle, D Givney, E Henry; J Brady, T Moore, P O’Connor; Subs: A O’Mara, L Murphy, E Keating, S Johnston, F Reilly, S Cooney, C Conroy, M Argue, G McKiernan, F Flanagan, N McDermott.
Derry: T Mallon; C Mullan, D McBride, R Ferris; G McKinless, C McKaigue, D Heavron; B Rogers, E Bradley; B Heron, J Kielt, E Lynn; C Kearns, M Lynch, Cailean O’Boyle; Subs: Ciaron O’Boyle, O Duffy, K McKaigue, P Quinn, M Craig, N Forester, B Óg McGilligan, R Bell, S Heavron, C Murphy, C Bradley.
