Exciting young Derry prospects enthuse Meenagh

Ciaran Meenagh projected the air of a man very happy with what he had just witnessed at Find Insurance Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Derry manager had just masterminded a twenty point victory over a Cork side that arrived in the Maiden City at the summit of Division Two with a perfect win record. The Rebels would return home a beaten docket.

“I'm happy with the result,” Meenagh agreed, “but I'm particularly happy with the first half performance. At the end of the half to go four points up by an unbelievable pass by Conor Glass to Lachlan Murray. I thought Lachlan was electric in the first half. He's moving in the right direction. You have to remember, Lachlan Murray is only 22 years of age.”

Meenagh fleshed out his point, and noted how dominating at kick out time was vital. “So, in terms of going into the changing rooms at half-time and then to have the breeze at your back in the second half, the whole thing was to get the first ten minutes of the half right then. I think we won eight of their last ten kick-outs at the end of the first half. That gave us the platform then to build ourselves into the game and to be leading at half-time.

“We went for the jugular ten minutes into the second half. I think the game then was effectively over. So, happy with the performance, happy with the mentality.

READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: Silver Jubilee celebrations as Doire Trasna marks 25 years in the Waterside

“It's all about winning, “he continued. “It's a fair bit easier when you're winning, isn't it? And that develops confidence. Probably in our last game or two, I felt now that you're starting to see that dirty diesel washed out of the system that has been there.”

With as many as twelve different scorers in the big win, Meenagh observed: “The fact that the game was over with twenty-five minutes to go, it was a bit of a turkey shoot down at that stage. So, yeah, it was pleasing in terms of having an array of scorers, and the lads will take confidence in that.”

The Derry manager was keen to flag up the importance of strength and depth in this season’s squad, with any number of exciting young talents producing the good for the Oakleafers. “You look at Ruairi Forbes and look at the young players that we used off the bench there as well. It's all about growing a panel.

“When Dan Higgins came into the game,” he embellished, “I thought he did really well. His physical size will be important to us moving forward. He's a player that I value very, very highly.

“Ruairi Forbes is only 20. Him and Sean Young, only 21. We have the likes of Patrick McGurk and these lads that are coming back and that are very, very close as well. You see Conal Higgins had come into the game there. Matthew Downey is only 22 and he has a minor injury there. These lads are all coming back in.    

“Eamon Young was on the bench today,” said the Derry manager. “So, look, I'd like to think that we're building a squad here as we go.”

Asked about another exciting young prospect, and the Derry boss explained: “James Sargent did his ACL, so he's eight months yesterday since his operation. He only turned 19 there a couple of weeks ago. He's a premium athlete. Tommy Rogers was on the bench the last day.”

There was further good news about an absent Magherafelt star that has yet to kick a ball for Derry this season. “Michael McEvoy is back now in full training. From when I was here three years ago, he has had a lingering knee tendinopathy issue, but we have done it the right way. We're taking a long-term view to that. The sheer physical size of that man and the pedigree that he has. He will be playing minutes now very, very shortly.”

Meenagh signed off with: “The squad is now stronger than when I was here the last time and I'm trying my best to give as many players game time as we can.”