Football

Injuries stunting Derry attempts to build attacking game: Damian McErlain

Derry manager Damian McErlain after beating Wicklow during the NFL match at Glen Maghera on Sunday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Derry manager Damian McErlain after beating Wicklow during the NFL match at Glen Maghera on Sunday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Derry manager Damian McErlain after beating Wicklow during the NFL match at Glen Maghera on Sunday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

DERRY’S injuries since the start of the season have stunted their attempts to add fluidity to their attacking game admits Oak Leaf boss Damian McErlain.

Enda Lynn missed Sunday’s win over Wicklow and is likely to miss this weekend’s trip to Limerick. The five-point win over the Leinster side also saw Ryan Bell make his return from an ankle injury suffered in the McKenna Cup.

Niall Toner was a late withdrawal from the side having been in and out during St Mary’s Sigerson Cup campaign, while the lacks of Jack Doherty and Jason Rocks have dipped in and out of attacking positions.

The weekend saw something entirely different, with inter-county rookies Ryan Dougan and Declan Hughes operating as a two-man inside forward line, albeit with Shane McGuigan and Emmett Bradley occasionally rotating inside.

Dougan excelled at full-back for his club Glen in their championship campaign last year, while Hughes operated in a middle-third role as he played a huge hand in bringing Lavey to a first county final in a generation.

The pair did well as ball-winners, with Hughes’ catch and quick-thinking layoff setting up the first goal for Chrissy McKaigue.

McErlain revealed that the pair had been operating on the inside line at training “for a couple of weeks”, but admitted that there is a lack of fluency about their attacking play in general at present.

“That's has a fair bit to do with who is available, with injuries and the like. Niall Toner was supposed to start today, Enda Lynn is out injured while players were playing in other matches during the week.

“Ryan Bell is just back today but even defensively we have some good options who were very strong in the McKenna Cup who are not in the back six at the minute.

“Up front, it is just a matter of finding the balance. The game is so fluid now. Your attack is such a part of your defence and your defence is such a part of your attack, they have to be fit to do both.”

They scored just 10 times against a well-organised Wicklow in Glen, on a weekend where their championship opponents Tyrone laid down a first marker of the year by carving a listless Monaghan apart in the second half in Omagh.

“Sure everyone says Tyrone don't have an attack,” laughed McErlain. “They are a superb attacking side. Of course that is the fluidity that we want to get to but they are just together longer. They have pace and experience and are a very good side. They are a Division One side.

“There is no one winning matches by big margins in any of the divisions, it doesn't matter what sort of team they are so it is very difficult to compare at this stage,” he said of where his side is at in relation to Mickey Harte’s men.

“Teams at this level play a different system than Tyrone will against you. We are the team every one is looking to beat in this league whereas when we step up to play Tyrone, well every one will think Tyrone are going to win so that alone changes the whole dynamic. That's the difference when it comes to the chemistry of a game.”

Having kept three clean sheets in the McKenna Cup, Sunday saw Derry claim their first of the National League despite a couple of late half-scares.

Ciaran Meenagh, a former Tyrone player, has visibly been orchestrating the defensive setup during games. Eamon McGill has been operating as the sweeper, with Chrissy McKaigue playing from midfield as they look to build a running game.

They will travel by bus to Limerick on Friday evening to stop over for a 1pm throw-in at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, knowing that a win would mean only a freak set of results would stop them winning promotion from there.