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Injury crisis as Derry crash to young Galway team

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Dungiven’s Mark Craig move the ball out of defence.

Derry.................................................1-11
Galway...............................................1-15
Just when the Derry management and supporters thought the injury crisis could not get any worse it did. Without a host of players from their strongest panel they were depleted even further in the first half when Mark Craig who had made an impressive game at centre half. Derry are short of defenders, the management have trawled the county and they cannot make players who are not there so it is going to be the case of mix and match. Certainly the absence of Gerard O'Kane and Dermot McBride was a huge blow and an even bigger one when Craig and McGoldrick had to retire.
While it was always difficult for Derry to win under the various handicaps it must be said that a number of factors in their play did not help. Some of the build up play was too and allowed Galway time to get extra men back. At times when the Galway half backs pushed forward they were given far too much freedom. When Gareth Bradshaw the Galway right half back came forward to score their goal he had time to pick his spot.
When Derry did play a quick ball forward they looked more dangerous with Cailean O'Boyle always a threat and he was unfortunate not to pocket a second goal neat the end when Derry had a chance of getting something from the game.
Galway with seven of the team that won the 2011 All Ireland under 21 title looked a bit uncertain at the start but their more direct play and greater pace in key areas saw them able to get numbers forward outnumber a Derry defence that got little protection from players further out.
While the defeat is by no means the end of the world it certainly will make it difficult for Derry to get into a promotion situation with four away games against their remaining six and a visit to Omagh next week. However in recent years Derry have played better away from home and maybe that game next Sunday against Tyrone will bring out the best in them.
While Derry tried their best there was a lack of sharpness in some areas with Galway quicker to the breaking ball and much more direct in their approach. The injury to John McCambley is proving a costly as he was the player who could get up and down the field and cover back when the defence was sunder threat.
Defensive debutants
With both Kevin McGuckin and Kevin McCloy retiring and O'Kane and McBride injured Derry were forced to field an inexperienced defence with Mark Craig, Brian McCallion and Liam Morrow making their league debuts. Ryan Dillon had played briefly under a former manager and Chrissy McKiague was back after two years playing Australian Rules with Sydney Swans. This left Sean Leo McGoldrick as the only defender with league and championship experience and he was unable to push forward as per normal due to the pressure they were under.
Danny Devlin had no chance with the goal and he did pull off a couple of good saves and pointed a '45. Brian McCallion battle hard and could not be faulted fro effort. Liam Morrow a young and inexperienced full back had his hands full with the classy Nicky Joyce who scored four points from play but at times the big Kilrea lad found two or three Galway men bearing down on him. Good on the ball. Barry Dillon caught a tarter in Galway's new scoring star Michael Martin who kicked three first half points from play. Chrissy McKaigue still looks in need of game time but he proved to be a good carrier of the ball. Mark Craig was looking good at centre half until he picked up an unfortunate shoulder injury. Sean Leo McGoldrick had a steady enough game but there were times hen he could have been more direct. Joe Diver and James Conway started well enough at midfield but gradually the Galway duo of Thomas Flynn and Fiontain O'Curr4aoin took control and for three quarters of the game Derry were second best in this area despite some good runs by Joe Diver.
Barry McGoldrick had started well but had to retire with injury after 21 minutes. He looked a lot sharper than he had in recent games and opened the scoring with a fine point. Mark Lynch drifted in and out of the game while on his left Michael Bateson who has not yet found his good form of last year struggled against Gareth Bradshaw one of the best attacking half backs in the game. Cailean O'Boyle took his goal well and with a bit of luck could have got another. His height and strength gives the full forward line extra options. Paddy Bradley the team captain was tightly marked but battled for every ball. When he moved out in the second half he played the ball in quick and direct and when Derry were back to a point it looked good but Galway finished the stronger team in a somewhat subdued game. Conleth Gilligan hit the point of the game in the first half but was replaced late on. His free taking was good.
Charlie Kielt came off the bench and despite his lack of match practice due to working in Glasgow he did well. PJ McCloskey did all he could when introduced at midfield and Colin Murray made a very important clearance when Galway were on the rampage. Young Brian Doyle replaced the injured Barry McGoldrick and with a bit more experience will be a very good defender at this level. Enda Lynn looked lively and sharp when he came off the bench in the second half.

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