Cassidy: critics of Ulster football don’t understand the intensity
Derry’s quarter-final win over Monaghan last season drew fierce criticism over the cynical fouling on both sides, but Cassidy refused to condemn the actions afterwards and 12 months on, he believes the critics of that match after incapable of understanding the ‘essence’ of Ulster football as they only watch it on television.
“I have yet to talk to anyone that was at that game in Celtic Park, whether they were a Monaghan supporter or Derry supporter or neutral who did not enjoy that day,’’ Cassidy said.
“A few Monaghan people I have talked to hated the result but they enjoyed the day. Whenever you are sitting back and watching on your television screen, you don’t capture the essence of what the whole day is about and the spirit of what is going on. So you should never do that.
“If you are a critic and you have never been to an Ulster championship match, I would advise you to get into your car and drive to Celtic Park on Sunday week and experience what Ulster football championship is about.”
Cassidy revealed that Armagh are in for a hot reception in Celtic Park in Sunday week’s Ulster SFC quarter-final, insisting that the pressure is on Paddy O’Rourke’s men to perform after the optimism generated by their recent NFL Division 2 title.
“Armagh are not going to get an easy ride in Celtic Park. They are not going to come to Celtic Park and walk out with a handy game. But the bottom line is still that it is theirs to lose. They had a good league. The pressure is clearly on Armagh and is clearly on their players to come up to Celtic Park and back-up those performances.
“To show their own supporters the league football that they played can be continued on into the championship.”
In contrast to their opponents, Derry will be hoping to reverse their own league form as they plummeted to Division 2. Yet their manager is not perturbed by that poor run and stresses it will have no impact on their championship performance.
“Everyone has their own views on the league. I come from a culture that does not give a lot of credence to league football. What I do know is that the championship is really what it is all about.
“Derry have not performed in it for quite a number of years now. So are we going to produce fantastic football in the National League and deceive in the championship or are we going to get one where we understand that the championship is where we have to get consistency?
“I would like to see this as the start of our season. I am not going to say that this year is going to be any different. I am not going to do a Mourihino. But at the same time I have confidence in the players that I have.”
Cassidy was also once more scathing in his criticism of the decision to bring in experimental rules during the league.
“I have to say the whole messing around with the league and the rules that were applied in my opinion undermines the league competition.
“It is still the second premier competition in inter-county football and whenever you are introducing different rules in different years concurrently, there is only one way that you can take it and that is that the people who are involved in bring in those rules don’t value the league either.
“When you have people at the head of the organisation not paying respect to the competition that they should be paying to it, why should they be surprised that a lot of people follow the lead that they set?”
Meanwhile, Charlie Kielt is Derry’s only injury casualty for that game, out for six weeks with a medial ligament injury.
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