Losing streak all in our heads, claims Brennan

IT has frequently proven to be the graveyard for their championship ambitions over the past decade yet Derry boss John Brennan is hopeful that his side’s fortunes will change in Sunday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Armagh in Clones.

Derry last graced the marquee day in Ulster senior football in 2000, when they lost the provincial decider against the Orchard County by 1-12 to 1-11.

In the interim period the Oak Leaf side have been defeated in seven Ulster semi-finals, including a run of five successive losses between 2005 and 2009.

Brennan believes it is a mental hurdle that his players need to overcome in order to claim a spot in this year’s decider on July 17.

“It is a psychological thing,” he said. “There are players who have been in this position before four or five times and they haven’t got over the line. There have been all sorts of reasons quoted.

“The fellas are capable but it is a bit of a lump in their throat, it’s sticking there all the time.

“If we can get over this, I think it could make a fantastic difference to these players’ mental ability to proceed after that.”

Brennan admits that his squad are well aware of their poor record yet they will hope to build on the encouragement generated by their emphatic 1-18 to 1-10 quarter-final win over Fermanagh last month.

He added: “It is a bit of a mental block this thing, reinforced by the fact that they’re constantly reminded of it, which we can do nothing about.

“It affects players and I’m doing my best to eradicate that but there are always nice people who keep reminding them of that and that they haven’t achieved. Things just maybe haven’t gone well, but we’re hopeful. We’re going to Clones to put up a good performance.”