Derry v Monaghan USFC

So MMM how do you think it will go?

I honestly think this will be the hardest 1st round game to call, virtually nothing seperates the two teams as it stands... interesting to see what people think now ant again in 6 weeks time!

And so it begins!

Was going to set up a match thread after the league finals but you beat me to it!

Very tough one to call, as you say there's nothing between the sides. It's a massive game, and I think the winners will go on to the Ulster final. Winning this game will be a huge boost and I think the winners will be more up for the semi than Armagh or Tyrone in my opinion, and an Ulster title would mean alot more.

Naturally I'm going to go for Monaghan , but I'll say more about it sooner to the match, alot will happen before that.

Can't wait until Monaghan hammer Derry.........

Derry - All-Ireland Champions!

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loyal i reckon your just licking up to niamh for when you have to play derry in the 1st round of the qualifiers!!!!!

Loyal has made the point that Derry won't make any sort of final this year nor win any sort of match. They have done more than Meath the past few years and I am confident they will make more of an impact on this years All-Ireland than Meath. Meath are 4/1 to to win piss-poor Leinster who haven't has a AI final representative since 2001 and even then they were anihalated, Derry are 4/1 for Ulster argably the strongest province in the country and had 3 realistic chances of All Ireland Glory in Tyrone, Monaghan and Derry (Maybe Armagh too to a lesser extent). Paddy Power has Derry at 16/1 and Meath at 33/1 so even the bookies think we have more of a chance than you lot. But keep slagging us off Loyal, we all know how your tips and predictons work out anyway, Meath for Sam 08 as I recall? Limerick disagreed...

Not going to happen Niamh. I reckon your best bet for the summer is to follow Liverpool in the Intertoto Cup (did they even manage to qualify for that?????) or follow Tommy Bowe and his friends get destroyed in RSA.

You would be welcome to join the Meath County Group on this website if you like? You'd be the second member, I'd be delighted to have you.

No thanks Loyal your dead on! I'll follow my beloved Derry onto Ulster Glory. Let's just keep these wee comments to remind ourselves in 4 months time...who was right and who was wrong.

NiamhDerry wrote:No thanks Loyal your dead on! I'll follow my beloved Derry onto Ulster Glory. Let's just keep these wee comments to remind ourselves in 4 months time...who was right and who was wrong.

But Niamh, we're talking about the 2009 championship here...

mid-mon man wrote:

NiamhDerry wrote:No thanks Loyal your dead on! I'll follow my beloved Derry onto Ulster Glory. Let's just keep these wee comments to remind ourselves in 4 months time...who was right and who was wrong.

But Niamh, we're talking about the 2009 championship here...

I know...but I have to keep the faith!!

Ps I hope your man in your avatar is on form this weekend! I don't think Liverpool will win League... But at least If United drop points it'll keep the PL interesting to the last day.

It's all on the day Niamh, anything can happen Sunday week! Mind you, the vast majority seem to be tipping Derry, completely expected, but I'm very happy with that!

NiamhDerry wrote:
I know...but I have to keep the faith!!

Ps I hope your man in your avatar is on form this weekend! I don't think Liverpool will win League... :x But at least If United drop points it'll keep the PL interesting to the last day.

It's taken that long for you to accept it Niamh! At the risk of jinxing the whole thing and Utd losing the last two games, I really cannot see them giving it up now. I've been confident of it for a number of weeks but the title is in their hands now. It'll only be the second time they've won the Premiership at home if they do it Saturday, amazing really. And Utd can drop points and still win the league against Arsenal! Last night was a big result, one of those that you nearly take as a foregone conclusion but turns out to be one of the most difficult. (Never mind the avatar, just put it up for a laugh after the Liverpool game but been meaning to change it since!)

Well MMM whats the craic now?

Losing confidence in Derry now, Muldoon, Lockhart and Mc Cusker all reportedly def out

Read that Lynch is struggling to be fit, Patsy Bradley might not be fit and I saw somewhere PB might have pulled his hamstring (could be just a wind-up but as I've read nothing else on it)

COME ON MONAGHAN!

Ah now Niamh, you're just being cute there! I'd say you're fairly confident about Derry(and why not, as I said before everything points towards a Derry win)! Yous have a few injuries but also the squad to compensate, and as with all championship games I'd say a few of those injuries are well exaggerated.

We've our own problems too mind. JP Mone has been struggling with injury for a good while and I doubt he'll be fully fit, if he plays at all that is. Then you've Lennon who's in the worst form he's been in for years, we really need a big improvement from him if we're to even compete with Doc and co. in the middle. We still haven't got the keeper position sorted, good to have competition and all but it's vital the right choice is made here as it cost us against Fermanagh last year.

Having said all that, I'm still confident in the team's ability, as I was before the games the last two years. However this will be the toughest game yet and it'll take a mighty effort to turn over Derry in their own back yard.

mid-mon man wrote:Ah now Niamh, you're just being cute there! I'd say you're fairly confident about Derry(and why not, as I said before everything points towards a Derry win)! Yous have a few injuries but also the squad to compensate, and as with all championship games I'd say a few of those injuries are well exaggerated.

We've our own problems too mind. JP Mone has been struggling with injury for a good while and I doubt he'll be fully fit, if he plays at all that is. Then you've Lennon who's in the worst form he's been in for years, we really need a big improvement from him if we're to even compete with Doc and co. in the middle. We still haven't got the keeper position sorted, good to have competition and all but it's vital the right choice is made here as it cost us against Fermanagh last year.

Having said all that, I'm still confident in the team's ability, as I was before the games the last two years. However this will be the toughest game yet and it'll take a mighty effort to turn over Derry in their own back yard.

Not about the 1st 3 they are all def out. I know that we have still a strong enough squad but I'd still be slight worried playing the team who has beaten us 2 years in a row! (Strange we didn't meet for years now we meet all the time!) I'm sure DC and co are maybe exaggerating some injuries but its still worrying for the fans. Where is it Mone plays half back?? If so thats prob the weakest line in the Derry team. Clerkin should be well up for it in Midfield he's a rough sort of a character and won't be walked over easily, DC won't underestimate Monaghan and Mc Enaney won't underestimate youse, but if PB starts its obvious that he will be double marked by Monaghan so its paramount DC has a contingency plan, it may mean Derry will have to shoot from further out as they won't risk losing possession closer in but also mean probably no goals!! Think maybe with home advantage we might win....(D: 0-16 M:1-10) Note this is liable to change every day this week with new reports of injuries, team news etc!

Which Mone do you mean? Dessie is corner-back and JP full-back. Don't think PB will be double-marked, reckon Dessie will just be on him like the last two years, and if he does as well again I'd be happy. Perhaps you mean the deployment of a sweeper though, that might be a job for Damien Freeman to sit in front of the full-back line to clean up any balls coming short and the like, he's been used in a position like that before. Anyway, I wouldn't like PB to be double-marked especially, it only leaves more room for other forwards, I'm sure DC thinks the same about marking Freeman. I reckon it's probable enough we'll concede a goal, hopefully not but I can see it happening. However I'm confident we can do it up front ourselves if we click, and we will have to to win this game. Time for the young boys like McManus and Downey to step up in the forwards, and having Finlay this time is a big plus.

I'll go for Derry 1-14 Monaghan 2-13. (Very optimistic but sure I have to back them and I know they can do it!)

mid-mon man wrote:Which Mone do you mean? Dessie is corner-back and JP full-back. Don't think PB will be double-marked, reckon Dessie will just be on him like the last two years, and if he does as well again I'd be happy. Perhaps you mean the deployment of a sweeper though, that might be a job for Damien Freeman to sit in front of the full-back line to clean up any balls coming short and the like, he's been used in a position like that before. Anyway, I wouldn't like PB to be double-marked especially, it only leaves more room for other forwards, I'm sure DC thinks the same about marking Freeman. I reckon it's probable enough we'll concede a goal, hopefully not but I can see it happening. However I'm confident we can do it up front ourselves if we click, and we will have to to win this game. Time for the young boys like McManus and Downey to step up in the forwards, and having Finlay this time is a big plus.

I'll go for Derry 1-14 Monaghan 2-13. (Very optimistic but sure I have to back them and I know they can do it!)

I don't know MMM our forwards don't seem too capable of goals recently! They failed to sore them past relatively weak defences (Dublin, Donegal and to an extent Kerry who's fullback line is arguably their weakest.) Had Lockhart of been play I think he would have kept Freeman somewhat quiet but I'd say Kevin Mc Guckin will be placed on him, I'd say you might be spot on enough about us conceding 2 goals as Kevin Mc Cloy can be dodge enough at times, but then again we only conceded 3 goals in the league so maybe something is working after all. Do you think the Monaghan defence can cope with 2 troublesome forwards in Paddy and Eoin, I know Mone is more than fit to cope with Paddy but what about Eoin, he is very very fast and is a nightmare for some defences. Finlay is a plus for you def, he is good from placed balls as well as precise scores from play. It's too hard to say how the game will go, my heart says Derry but head says draw at 70 mins and the team with the most left in the tank to win in ET

I'd imagine Vinny will be marking Eoin Bradley. Was in the forwards last year and marked Muldoon the year before(did very well if I remember right), but EB will be a new proposition. I'd be very confident in his ability to deal with him though, Vinny is an excellent all-rounder, both fast and strong for a start, which you need again Eoin I think. He mightn't be the best man-marker(imo much better at wing-back) but probably the best equiped to mark Eoin Bradley. Alternatively you could find Dermot McArdle marking him, good marker who was one of our best performers in the league, but I feel Vinny will get the nod for that job. EB is a great man for a goal so he'll have to watch out for that, and he seems to be improving all the time so it'll be a tough job for Vinny.

It will be a tight game alright, and it's when they're that close that factors such as home advantage come into play, so we'll see if Derry can keep up their good record at Celtic Park! Will be interesting to see how it is now after being done up.

Last time I was in Celtic park was year for a club minor semi final so I have no idea what it looks like! The stand looks some job but not too impressed with the CELTIC PARK on the seats looks very soccer-like should have at least been in Irish!

I expect Derry to win this one. They have performed well in the league, unearthed a few more scorers, and usually defend well.

Monaghan are a hard working outfit, but depend on a few players doing the business while the others graft. Derry have been relying on Bradley but I think he has a bit of help this year.

Muldoon is a bad loss because when he wants to be Enda is a serious player.

I think this has all the ingredients to be one of the best matches in this years championship. I think Monaghan have more to lose than Derry - a Derry win would surely see the break up of the current Monaghan team as we know it, certainly Banty would call time on his tenure as manager.

A Monaghan win whilst being a setback to Derry would not bother Cassidy too much I don't think in terms of his long term plans. The two teams are fairly evenly balanced Derry may have slightly better defence but midfield and forwards are hard to separate. Monaghan certainly need Lennon to up the ante a bit of he is to compete with Doherty at midfield. Break ball is going to be vital so fitness is going to be a big factor and i think Monaghan may just have the edge there with Mc Elkennon factor.

I know its cliche but forwards win matches and there are some top quality forwards on view - the Bradleys Finaly and Freeman to name but a few. I'd imagine there will be no more than a point or two in it. Looking forward to a good match and I am going for a Monaghan win

Boc and you tipped Derry for Ulster

Bright-Oak wrote:Boc and you tipped Derry for Ulster

He's come to his senses!

Good summary there Boc, I'd agree this is a bigger game for Monaghan than Derry. As you say, if we don't win this Banty will walk. In fact, anything less than Ulster this year would see Banty call it a day I think(barring a miraculous qualifier run!). On the other hand Damien Cassidy is just starting out, and while Derry will be very hungry for the Anglo-Celt themselves, he's obviously got plenty of time if it doesn't work out this year.

Bright-Oak wrote:Boc and you tipped Derry for Ulster

I know Niamh and i have £20 on them to win it too - but something tells me this is a bigger game for Monaghan than Derry - and if all Derrys injury worries are true and not just mind games then i think it's advantage Monaghan - sorry Niamh or should I say Big Oak - have you joined some indian tribe or what?