Football

Derry minors go on the offensive to crush Antrim but different day could bring different plan

Kerry's Michael Foley is outjumped by Derry's Padraig McGrogan in the 2016 All-Ireland Minor Championship quarter final at Croke Park
Kerry's Michael Foley is outjumped by Derry's Padraig McGrogan in the 2016 All-Ireland Minor Championship quarter final at Croke Park Kerry's Michael Foley is outjumped by Derry's Padraig McGrogan in the 2016 All-Ireland Minor Championship quarter final at Croke Park

With a refreshing readiness to alter the game plan, Derry have qualified for a third successive Ulster MFC final.

That flexibility saw them shift from a patient, structured approach against Tyrone at Celtic Park to a frenzy of attacking abandon that shot down Antrim at Clones on Sunday.

Targeting the Saffron transition from deep, the Oak Leafers pressed high and crushed their opponents with a fast-moving offensive strategy.

And yet, it could all change again in next month’s decider against either Down or Cavan. Different day, different plan.

“We watched them against Donegal, and they got a lot of ball and worked it out from defence,” said captain Padraig McGrogan.

“So we knew if we wanted to stop them, we had to press up high, and it worked on the day.

“We were lucky it worked, but we’ll have to come up with a game plan for the next day. You take one team at a time, and you do your best to beat them and that’s it.”

A talented Derry squad is blessed with versatile players who can slot into a variety of roles and alter the style as the occasion demands.

Midfielder Oisin McWilliams moved to full forward late on to bang in two goals and seal Antrim’s face as Derry coasted to a 3-17 to 0-9 win.

“Oisin can play anywhere, wherever you want to play him, he’s a great player.”

Quality on the bench is another valuable asset, as evidenced by the impact made by a raft of second half substitutes sent in by manager Damian McErlain.

“It wasn’t just the fifteen at the start. I don’t know how many subs we brought on, but every one of them made a difference in their own way,” said McGrogan.

“Big Callum (Brown) in the middle of the field, couple of great kick-outs, couple of great runs. Big Tiarnan McHugh, couple of scores, Fergal Mortimer, couple of scores as well.

“It’s good to see boys coming in off the bench who can do that, and there’s that positivity around the squad that anybody who comes in is going to do a job.”

But the Oak Leafers will remain grounded as they prepare to learn the identity of their next opponents, with the second semi-final taking place this weekend between Down and Cavan.

“You never get carried away, it’s just one game at a time, knock each team down as they come.

“Then we look to the next day, and whoever it is, we’ll try our best. We’ll give them as much respect as we can, and we’ll strive to beat them.”

By virtue of their appearance in the provincial final, Derry are assured of a place in the All-Ireland MFC quarter-finals, but McGrogan insists that won’t diminish their determination to win a second Ulster title in three years.

“The Ulster final is first, and that’s all we’ll be focusing on, whether it’s Cavan to Down. We’ll look forward to it.

“We need to get over this next game before we start thinking about anything else.”

In the meantime, the Newbridge lad is counting down the days to his return to St Tiernach’s Park, the spiritual home of Ulster football.

“Clones is the best pitch I have played on, it’s unbelievable. Everything is class on it and that’s where you want to be.”