Dr McKenna Cup Section A, round two: Down v Derry (Pairc Esler, 2pm tomorrow)
GETTING a win under their belts against Queen’s was a positive start for Down but Peter Turley knows defeating a county team is likely to prove a tougher obstacle.
Sure, St Mary’s defeated Antrim last Sunday while Ulster University pipped Donegal, but both county sides were inexperienced, with Donegal fielding their U21s.
Down’s only victory last year came against St Mary’s in the McKenna Cup, so Turley wasn’t getting carried away by the win against another student side, saying:
“Derry’s next, at home, but every game is tough. Anyone who’s making a McKenna Cup team, if they’re not already established players they’re trying to become established players.
“They’re putting in 100 per cent so every game at inter-county level is tough. I’ve been playing a lot of years now, but I’m coming up against players who are hungry, fit, who have put a lot of effort in. You have to get up to that level or you’re not going to be starting.”
Indeed Derry’s named line-up includes many in that ‘hungry’ category, among them four of their five changes from the starting side that defeated Armagh last weekend – namely corner-backs Ronan Murphy and Conor McGrogan, centre half-back Conor Nevin, and midfielder Patrick Kearney.
Manager Damian Barton, back from a family holiday in Australia, has handed the captaincy to wing-back Neil Forester, the first member of the Steelstown club in Derry city to receive that honour, so he will be keen to impress too.
The other personnel change involves goalkeeper Thomas Mallon, who has been number one in recent years but faces a battle for the starting role.
With full-back Oisin Duffin also fresh to the county scene this year, the last line of Derry’s defence is very inexperienced at this level.
Down’s attack put in a mixed display against Queen’s: Alan Davidson and Cathal Magee performed well but the team registered 10 wides, eight of those from forwards.
Turley sensibly put that sloppy shooting into perspective, pointing out: “I only came on the last 10 minutes but we seemed to miss a lot of chances – that’s just rustiness, the first game of the season. We were dominating for most parts of the game, so if we can keep that up the scores will come.”
However they play, the Downpatrick clubman is keen to register another victory, explaining: “This year we thought we’d take this [McKenna Cup] much more seriously – we didn’t not take it seriously last year, but now every game we need to win.
“Once you get into the habit of not winning it’s very hard to get out of it. So we’re definitely going into every game to win it, so it’s good to get off to that start.”
Down were hanging on in the end against Queen’s, but Turley insisted that was not a hangover from the ‘annus horribilis’ that was 2016:
“To be fair, a lot of that team wouldn’t have been here last year, so they wouldn’t have even been thinking like that…
“It’s a big step up, even from Division One of club football to the McKenna Cup is definitely a big step up. Alan Davidson did well, scoring 1-4, so he’s looking good.
“Everybody has to get used to the pace of the game, but hopefully it’s a sign of better things to come.”
As Turley suggested, Down’s line-out at his home club last Sunday only included seven starters from the team that lined out in the qualifier defeat by Longford late last June, although that was quickly reduced to six when wing-forward Joe Murphy received a 12th minute black card.
Significantly, five of those representing continuity played in defence against Longford, albeit that Aidan Carr operated in a midfield role against Queen’s.
That experience in defence surely contributed to Down holding the student side to just six points, and only half of those from play, before a late flurry from the 68th minute onwards added 1-2 to the visitors’ tally.
In addition, Turley was one of four more players who had taken the field in that qualifier against Longford, along with Ryan Mallon, Conor Maginn, and Benny McArdle, all of whom also came on as subs against Queen’s.
Starters who have featured for the county seniors before included Caolan Mooney, Ryan McAleenan, Jonny Flynn, Danny Savage, and Turley’s brother Damien, the last-named also coming off the bench at his home club.
So Down are likely to have more experience than Derry but, after overcoming Armagh, the Oak Leafers won’t be seen off easily.
Team News
Down: TBC
Derry: T Mallon; R Murphy, O Duffin, C McGrogan; N Forester, C Nevin, P Hagan; P Kearney, A McLaughlin; G O’Neill, R Bell, C McWilliams; N Loughlin, E McGuckin, B Heron. Substitutes: C McLarnon, M Warnock, E Lynn, P Coney, M Lynch, J Kielt, C McAtamney, M Craig, C Mullan.
