Time for Derry to deliver in Ulster
While Armagh and Tyrone were divvying up titles over the last ten years, Derry were lurching from one early exit to another. Since reaching the final in 2000 they have fallen foul of seven semi-finals. Their other two campaigns resulted in defeats in the first round in 2003 and the preliminary round stage a year later.
Kevin McGuckin was honesty personified in assessing the detritus of the noughties.
“We have an horrendous record in Ulster. This is in my ninth year involved and, unfortunately, we’ve been unable to carry through any consistency into the semi-finals and get over that hurdle.
“Possibly it was a mentality thing where we struggled after getting a first round victory to keep our composure and go into that next round, but hopefully this is the year where we can go on a run.
“We’re certainly not thinking of the bigger picture or silverware. The first one is a real banana skin with Armagh who are a top, top side so we can’t think too far ahead.”
Hearing a player rattle off the ‘one game at a time’ mantra is no great surprise but McGuckin and Derry can be excused the lapse into cliché given the route facing them to a possible provincial decider.
Only Tyrone in the modern era – in 2005 – have claimed an Ulster title having started their journey in the preliminary stage which Derry and Armagh find themselves at in Celtic Park in two days’ time.
“Ulster is very competitive no matter if it’s a first round game or who you’ve got and you are going to have to beat a lot of good teams to win. Obviously over the last few years since I’ve been involved there’s been no silverware at all and we’re fully aware of the task ahead. We’ve got a very strong squad.
“I know we say that year after year but at the minute we’re a big strong team, a physical side. We’ve worked a lot on our fitness this year. We’ve picked up on our sharpness this last few months and hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.”
If league form is any indicator – and there are differing opinions on that – then Armagh will be expected to advance through to the first round proper. But there are signs that the wind is drifting in Derry’s favour.
Natives of the Orchard County are striking a surprisingly pessimistic tone given the counties’ contrasting league fortunes and there is a clear sense in Derry that Cassidy’s side has a big game in them.
The venue may have something to do with that. Derry haven’t lost a championship fixture in Celtic Park since Down managed a win 16 years ago, and Steven McDonnell is well aware what happened after that.
“Down won in 1994 and went on to win the All-Ireland so if we have the same luck as Down I’d be happy enough with that. Derry have a fantastic record in Celtic Park, there’s no doubting that and, even in national league games, they are a tough team to beat up there.
“Form will certainly go out the window on Sunday because you can’t look at what Derry have done in the national league this year. They have been gearing themselves towards this match and have been for a long time. We know that if we are going to get the win on Sunday it will be well earned.”
McDonnell harboured thoughts of retirement after getting sent off during Armagh’s qualifier loss to Monaghan last summer but Paddy O’Rourke’s appointment has rekindled his flame for football this season.
Named Opel GPA footballer of the month yesterday, he spoke with a hunger an determination of a man chasing his first Anglo-Celt Cup rather than one who already has seven provincial medals to his credit.
“This year I am as hungry as ever for any type of success. To have the honour of captaining your county team is massive too. While I have won seven Ulster titles, I have never won any as captain so I’d love to have the honour of lifting the Anglo-Celt as captain of Armagh.”
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