Derry U20 boss delighted with opening victory over Monaghan

Derry Under 20 manager Damian McErlain says he expects every county to improve after watching his team start their Ulster Championship campaign with a hard fought three point victory over Monaghan in Castlebayney on Wednesday night.

The Oak Leafers trailed 0-4 to 0-2 after the opening quarter before four unanswered scores took them two ahead, McErlain's team eventually going into half-time with a 0-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

Points from Tommy Rogers and Conal Higgins took Derry’s lead out to three within five minutes of the restart. Another Higgins score left it 0-10 to 0-7 on 42 minutes before the game threatened to turn on a controversial penalty decision, Fionn McEldowney harshly adjudged to have lifted off the ground following a superb diving block.

Up stepped Max McGinnity to bring the Farney side level and when the same player edged the home side in front on 54 minutes, Derry were behind for the first time since the 20th minute.

However, the Oak response was excellent, Cody Rocks restoring parity before a lovely two pointer from Rogers handed Derry a lead they would not lose. Cahir Spiers' insurance point then rubber stamped a victory Oak boss McErlain admitted been a real battle.

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"Just delighted to get the win," explained McErlain, "We expected nothing less in terms of the battle it was going to be. The pitch was very soft, the surface was good enough but it was heavy going there for the players.

"It was a real battle. Could we have made it handier for ourselves? Maybe. Our decision making let us down at times but look we're happy enough. We dug in and went three up there and then the penalty.

“I couldn't see it from where I was at but it looked harsh after a brilliant save, but our reaction after conceding that was really, really good in the small moments; the pressing and the willingness to turn the ball over and the desire to dig ourselves out of that again.

"We did that for a period again and it took the boys to get the scores, that two pointer for Tommy Rogers maybe giving us a bit of daylight but we composed ourselves and got over the line."

Donegal were the other Group A winners on the night after squeezing past an excellent Fermanagh display with Derry now set to meet both counties in the space of five days.

"We have 10 days until we play Fermanagh and then we play Donegal five days after so that's a real heavy period," added the Derry boss, "The approach now is to get the recovery in, get a good session in on Saturday and work next week ahead of the Fermanagh match.

"It's a condensed season so you need your panel there. We had Cody Rocks come off there; that was his second game in six months so he was always going to find it tight enough.

“Look, we know the situation, you hope your panel is good enough to tap into the 25 or 35 men that you have and we hope to keep improving.

"It's the first night out, so all the teams will drastically improve with every week and every game going pass.

“You can play challenge games all you like but that there is a different level of preparation altogether."