Derry Minors just one step away from an All-Ireland final

All-Ireland MFC semi-final
Derry v Dublin
Today, 5:30pm

Derry minors’ summer extravaganza just keeps on giving and the Dubs stand in the way of Damian McErlain’s side and a place in the All-Ireland final.

It’s a tie McErlain has an affinity with. In his last season as minor manager, in 2017, the Oakleafers prevailed in an enthralling clash with Dublin to book their final spot.

It was a Derry team that included Paudi McGrogan, Conor McCluskey, Declan Cassidy, Odhrán Lynch, Ben McCarron and Oisin McWilliams from the current senior panel.

Only Ross McGarry and David O’Hanlon – who has since lost out with the parachuting of Stephen Cluxton into the number one jersey – had a decent run with Dublin seniors this season. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne played a handful of games early on. Karl Lynch Bissett started both O’Byrne Cup games.

Since then, McErlain was the Derry senior boss before making a return to the minor grade. It’s different in that it’s U-17 this time around.

It’s not that much different McErlain reckons. He offers the “six or seven” players who’d have played minor back then as U-17s as one reason.

There is also the maturity of the current group. It grew even further with the battle to get past Donegal in a testing third quarter of their Ulster semi-final win over Donegal. After breezing through the championship group, it was a welcome reality check.

Then came the rollercoaster penalty shoot-out win over Monaghan in the Ulster final. It was a test of nerve against a Farney side who hit goals at the right times and refused to wilt.

Monaghan’s impressive All-Ireland quarter-final performance against Mayo quantifies the magnitude of Derry’s Ulster final heroics. Dermot Malone’s men totally outclassed Mayo in the same way Derry made light work of Galway.

“Overall, this is a mature enough group and I am not just saying that,” McErlain said, now in his fourth season managing the county minor team.

“They settle their heads; they listen and they want to develop and they are not getting carried away.”

Fionn McEldowney has led by example. Cahir Spiers is their attacking weapon from wing back. Tommy Rogers, Cahal McKaigue and James Sargent form a vital midfield axis. There is the communication to always have the middle occupied.

McKaigue followed Galway skipper Shay McGlinchey every yard of Carrick on Shannon, leaving Rogers and Sargent to job share with the covering duties. It had the organisation many county senior teams would be envious of.

And it needed to be after Monaghan tore Derry’s middle open. A glance at Dublin’s performances issue a warning.

Bar making six changes for their final group game – victory over Westmeath in the final group game – Dublin manager Damien Fennelly has named the same team for every other game.

Senan Ryan’s scoring ability from midfield could be the next challenge for McKaigue to get his teeth into. He doesn’t need to look very far for inspiration. Senior marking ace Chrissy McKaigue – a cousin of his father Padraig – is a master at snuffing out danger.

Paddy Curry (6-5), Harry Curley (2-7) and Noah Byrne (3-6) have bagged enough in Dublin’s attack during their championship odyssey to keep Derry fully tuned into this week’s plan.

Rogers and Sargent’s positioning will be crucial. But more than that, Derry’s attacking unit need to be squeaky clean in possession. Turnovers are something Dublin feast on. Wing backs Joshua Young and Ryan Mitchell are well able to play football and score.

Their battles with Johnny McGuckian and Eamon Young will go a long way to shape how this game will go. Galway had no answer whatsoever. On top of that, Dublin’s top scorer Lenny Cahill will need watching too.

But Derry are no dozers. Their performance against Galway made the reigning champions look very, very ordinary. A team that had five players with All-Ireland medals.

That’s the challenge McErlain and his management team face this week. They were able to use their Monaghan struggle to bounce back from. This weekend is about ambition and putting two huge performances back-to-back.

Ger Dillon and Conall Higgins have scored heavily all season.  The fact Higgins was quiet in Derry’s performance last week spoke volumes for their overall team ethos.

When Galway stacked their cards to stop him, others stood up. Welcome to the world of a successful team. Every player has a different day.

Dublin have 11 All-Ireland titles to their name. Derry have under half that. Five. The 2020 win over Kerry is fresh in the minds of the current minor crop who would’ve been looking on at that success as impressionable gasans looking to follow suit.

This time last year, Derry found themselves 1-3 to 0-1 in arrears early in a semi-final with Galway that saw their epic comeback almost being enough. Five of those Derry players experienced the regret floating around the Parnell Park dressing room that day. The look on their faces as they filed out onto the bus told it all. If only they had five more minutes.

“They are a big side,” McErlain outlines about Dublin. “They have pace about them and they enjoy the open spaces. They work really hard. They have shown they have a number of quality forwards who have scored heavily throughout Leinster.

“They present a significant challenge, that’s for sure, but you are in an All-Ireland semi-final so that’s the way it is.”

The prize on offer is huge. Derry’s performance must match that.

*** SIDEBAR ***

DERRY PANEL: Jack McCloy, Fionn McEldowney, Finbar Murray, Luke Grant, Cahir Spiers, Cahal McKaigue, Odhran Campbell, James Sargent, Tommy Rogers, Eamon Young, Ger Dillon, Johnny McGuckian, Rory Small, Conall Higgins, Oisín Doherty, Karl Campbell, John Boyle, Darach McGonigle, Dara McGuckin, Dylan Rocks, Deaglán McNamee, Kevin B Mullan, Lee O’Neill, Gabhan McIvor, Caolan Higgins, Patrick Birt, Rory McGonigle, Charlie Mulholland, Caomhin McNally, Faolan McNicholl, Fintan McIvor, Finbar McShane, Zack Gavigan, Jude Mulholland