Much like the team itself over the past number of years, it took Derry a while to get going on Sunday, but when they did, there was no stopping them.
After 10 minutes with no scores from either side, I feared that we were in for a defensive battle that would give the media ample reason to write about ‘puke’ defensive Ulster football but thankfully the game came to life and was a true reflection of the tough battles we have come to expect in the province.
By the end of the game Donegal were out on their feet, they just couldn’t keep up with the pace and intensity shown by the Derry panel - on the sideline as much as on the pitch. I would say if Rory Gallagher had a StatSports monitor on, he would have put some players to shame with his distance covered and heart rate at some stages of the game.
It is a long time since 1998, many supporters in the crowd won’t have remembered the last time Derry lifted the Anglo Celt. Within the county, their club successes in the meantime have been incredible, between football, hurling and camogie the accolades have been flowing in over the years, but they could never seem to get it together as a county collective until now. Credit must go to the management and backroom staff for the buy-in they have demanded. They have proven that if the attitudes and work--rate are right the results will come.
Our staff in Inspired are predominately Derry natives so the banter in the office in the last few weeks has been great - at least the same bunting and flags celebrating Ben and Tyrone’s successes last year are getting another use. It is great to see the positive influence that Derry’s success has had, (not on staff attendance), but on the families and youth of the county.
Families are pulling together to go to the matches, irrespective of club background and children are delighted to see some silverware and can now dare to dream that it won’t be another 24 years before the Anglo Celt returns to the county.
An All-Ireland quarter-final awaits the Oak Leaf men now and they will be a force to be reckoned with. If they can sustain the energy and keep the dogged determination to succeed that they have shown so far, then there is no reason they can’t make further progress towards Sam Maguire.
THE boys have some time to celebrate their success now before their next game and hopefully they can enjoy that time, recognise their achievements and then get back down to work.
Let’s hope there are no distractions from online activity or social media, no ‘catfishing’ attempts now that it has come to nationwide attention.
As with most of the country, the topic of conversation with neighbours at the weekend turned to the subject of the recent podcast and the maze of information and accusations made where it is believed that one girl has been ‘catfishing’ several GAA players for up to 10 years.
One neighbour had never heard the term ‘catfish’ and when it was explained that this meant that the person was pretending to be someone else online and using other people’s photos and names to set up fake accounts and portray a life different to reality, they quipped “Is that not social media in general?” to which I had to agree!
After my previous column on the dangers and negativity of social media and the more recent on the idea of a GAA player being ‘famous’ or getting recognised, the timing of the podcast release couldn’t have been more apt. It makes me uncomfortable that things like catfishing go on at such a local level. People being used and manipulated online by thinking they are having a conversation or getting to know someone, or worse developing feelings for someone who is a completely fabricated character.
As much as there have been jokes made about how ridiculous and funny the whole situation is, some of the guys in the story have been followed, their photographs taken and used without their knowledge and their names associated with someone who they have potentially never even met.
It sounds absurd but these are real people who have been affected (as well as their family and partners).
Setting social media dramas, aside I then turn my attention to the intriguing matches coming up this weekend in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Both Armagh v Tyrone and Mayo v Monaghan have the potential to be blockbusters. Both games will be intense, tactical, and come down to the wire.
The local derby in Armagh is the pick of the bunch for me and I feel Tyrone will have to show vast improvement to get the better of a strong Armagh team but I believe they can do it. I don’t want to have to disrupt our office colour scheme and integrate any orange so hopefully the white and red can stay until the end of July, whichever side of Ballinderry River it ends up representing.
