Dr McKenna Cup Section A: Derry v Queen’s University Belfast (tonight, Owenbeg, 8pm)
A MASSIVE win over QUB tonight could see Derry qualify automatically for the semi-finals, but only if Armagh beat Down in a tight, high-scoring clash at the Athletic Grounds.
It’s complicated. The Oak Leafers won by a point then lost by a point so far leaving them with a scoring average of 1.0 compared to Down’s 1.16 and Armagh’s 1.53.
Meanwhile, James McCartan’s Queen’s are sitting bottom with a 0.51 scoring average. They hung in there against Down but were slaughtered by Armagh last Sunday meaning that this game is a dead-rubber for them.
Everything points to a Derry win and manager Damian Barton will expect a reaction from his players after they wilted late on in Newry last Sunday despite the introduction of experienced trio James Kielt, Mark Lynch and Conor McAtamney.
“It’s very evident that some of our more experienced players need to get more football under their belt and that’s the reality,” said Barton after the game.
“I felt they could have come in, kicked-on and won the game for us.”
Kielt, Lynch and McAtamney all start at Owenbeg tonight as does Enda Lynn while Emmet McGuckin, Benny Heron and Carlus McWilliams drop to the bench.
Defeat in Newry means that, realistically, it will take something remarkable for Derry to make the knockout stages but Derry manager Barton is more concerned with getting his players ready for Division Two.
“Topping the group is not something that really concerns us,” he said.
“We need to play Queen’s and we need to get something out of the game no matter what stage of the competition we’re at and we’ll be wanting the victory.”
Barton has tried out a number of young hopefuls in the McKenna Cup so far and expects to have a group “that can represent the county with a bit of distinction” assembled for the start of the NFL.
“The McKenna Cup games have given us an idea of where we’re at,” he said.
“Whenever we hit the pitch hopefully we’ll have a squad that can go out and represent Derry. The first two games are massive – Clare will be a difficult game with the way they finished last season.
“Meath, especially away, are always a very difficult proposition. They have new management and there are different expectations. So we have it all to do.
“We had some great players in last year who came into the squad for the first time – they weren’t patient enough to stay with it which is a pity. But we are where we are and we have people who want to represent the county. I think so far we’ve seen people that can represent the county with a bit of distinction.”
Meanwhile, despite losing by 16 points QUB manager James McCartan felt that his students actually performed better against Armagh than they did in the three-point defeat against Down the previous weekend.
Whatever happens tonight, two-time All-Ireland winner McCartan has been frustrated by having to do without his inter-county players and he’ll hope to have his side in better shape for their Sigerson Cup opener against DCU.
“It’s very difficult when you’re involved in university football,” said McCartan.
“The way it has gone now and the pressure that is on inter-county managers, trying to get players released to play for their college is difficult and I understand that. It’s very difficult for inter-county managers. There’s the pressure they’re under and then they pass that pressure on to the players.
“We’ve been on the wrong end of it this year with the fellas that aren’t available to us. The McKenna Cup is difficult when you can’t get access to your best players and that’s just the reality of it.”
TEAM NEWS
Derry: C McLarnon; C Mullan, C Nevin, R Murphy; N Forester, O Duffin, M Warnock; C McAtamney, A McLaughlin; E Lynn, J Kielt, P Hagan; M Lynch, R Bell, N Loughlin; Subs: B McKinless, C McGrogan, G O'Neill, E McGuckin, B Heron, C McWilliams, P Kearney, M Craig, J Rocks
QUB: TBC
