I WAS really looking forward to the Derry and Galway game at the weekend to see how the Oak Leafers would bounce back after their chastening by Donegal. The generous odds of 6/4 on Galway, I found a little strange as, fresh from another Connacht title, the Tribesmen had Shane Walsh back in the starting lineup.
In the early stages it was clear that Derry were going to defend very deep with everyone behind the ball. They got slated for how open they were in their last game so it was natural they would revert to a style of play based first and foremost on being extremely difficult to break down.
During that opening quarter everything was going according to plan for Derry and at four points apiece they were in a decent place. I’m not convinced they would have won the game had it remained 15v15 but the sending off of Gareth McKinless denied us the opportunity to find out.
The Derry man is undoubtedly one of the best half backs in the game but his senseless act on Damien Comer made an uphill task an impossible one for his team.
Prior to the championship, between MCKenna Cup and League, Derry had won 11 out of their previous dozen games. They had created that winning habit.
They have now lost their last two championship matches so naturally confidence will be low. There are some quality players missing through injury and that has had an impact on the strength and depth of the Oak Leafers.
But they look bereft of an identity in style at the minute and at the top end of the pitch their scoring efficiency has dropped significantly. I expect they will bounce back to qualify from the group. With Armagh at home in the next game, this be a good indicator of where both sides sit in the pecking order in the aftermath of their Ulster Championship campaigns.
Armagh will be glad to have drawn Westmeath as their first game in the group rather than Derry or Galway. It gives them a great chance to get points on the board but after their opponents’ near miss in the group stages last year they will know not to take the Lake County for granted. I expect Armagh to come through here with a few points to spare.
Repeat pairings between evenly matched sides often end poorly for the team who won the first day out. As we all know Donegal are notoriously difficult to beat in Ballybofey, but I think Tyrone will be relishing this one.
As they go into another tasty tie with Donegal this weekend, Tyrone will be buoyed by the tremendous achievement of their U20 team capturing the All-Ireland on Sunday past.
I have to say, not for the first time, I was mightily impressed with the balance, movement and finishing ability of young Eoin McElholm. A magical seven points from play for him and an overall 1-18 (from play) was a great return and a sign of how open and entertaining the game was.
Such was their dominance Tyrone could easily have rattled up another 3-5. Anytime Kerry threatened a revival McElholm was the one player when the ball went to him, you knew instantly what was about to happen next.
Paul Devlin deserves great credit for the work he has done over a number of years now with the U-20s which is sure to see Tyrone back competing for All-Irelands in the not too distant future.
Two All-Irelands in three years speaks volume about the talent coming through and no doubt Brian Dooher will have called up a few of these lads this week.
The poor old kitman in the team rarely gets much recognition for all the unseen prep work they do to get things ready for the players. So it was great to see wee Gerard O’Neill front and centre up on the steps lifting the cup along with the players. Another special moment was Jarlath Burns’s lovely words to the Tyrone captain Michael Rafferty in recognising the memory of his brother John.
Donegal are on the crest of a wave at the minute but this isn’t a must-win game for them which may take the edge off slightly. So a tentative nod to the Red Hands to go into Ballybofey and pick up the points.