Ulster U20 FC quarter-final: Antrim v Derry (Dunsilly, 2pm today)
NOT so long ago Derry would have been regarded as almost ‘certs’ to reach the Ulster U20 semi-final, even with two matches to play. First Fermanagh at home, then Antrim away? ‘No bother’…
Yet much can change in the GAA and, just as Derry had to work extremely hard to progress past the Erne Lads after extra time at Celtic Park, so they will face a tough test against a Saffrons side with confidence and ambition of their own.
The timing of this U20 competition is one factor, brought back from the summer to freezing February. The colder, wetter weather conditions not only level the playing field but soak it too, making underfoot conditions slippery, especially if pitches have to be sanded. If wind and rain (perhaps even sleet and snow) are added into match time then outcomes can become even less predictable than usual at underage level.
Another aspect of the timing change which is almost as uncontrollable as the weather is the increased demands on players. Promising prospects who would probably start for their county U20 team are also needed by their school sides.
Success supposedly breeds success but even the famed Derry talent production line will be severely stretched by fixture conflicts between county and schools. The continued involvement of both St Patrick’s, Maghera and St Mary’s, Magherafelt in the MacRory Cup obviously poses problems for Derry U20 boss Mickey Donnelly.
Fermanagh were boosted last weekend by St Michael’s, Enniskillen having gone out of the MacRory Cup, and were able to call on players set to be involved in Ryan McMenamin’s senior set-up, including Brandon Horan, Callum Jones, and Sean Cassidy, who between them scored 1-5 of their 1-8 total in Celtic Park.
Yet even with their greater selection difficulties Derry deserved their victory, an outcome they probably should have achieved before extra time, but they were wasteful with their shooting late on in normal time.
Donnelly was grateful to be able to call on Alex Doherty, with the talented Glen inside-forward scoring five points despite only coming on after 40 minutes. Getting more game-time from the Maghera 18-year-old could be crucial to the visitors’ victory chances today.
That’s because, of course, another change to the old certainties is that Fermanagh and Antrim have got better.
Donnelly knows well about the latter, indeed he has helped mould some of the rising Saffron stars as Jamie Lamont, Adam Loughran, Mark McAfee, and Luke Mulholland all were on the St Ronan’s, Lurgan team that the Aghaloo man led to MacRory and Hogan Cup triumphs in 2018.
Even more work on raising Saffron standards has been done by Antrim’s Hugh McGettigan, who has overseen development through Minor level, including a hard-fought extra time win over Donegal at that level in 2017.
There’s a Derry connection with Ruairi Brolly, a tricky inside-forward like his famous father Joe, while imposing full-forward Pat Shivers of Cargin will be familiar with the Oak Leaf county too from St Pat's, Maghera.
If there’s any sort of guide from the past, Derry won when they met Antrim in the 2017 Ulster Minor Football Championship – indeed they thrashed Antrim by 17 points.
That’s highly unlikely to happen this afternoon, but Derry should still build on their opening win and continue their efforts to regain this trophy.
