City of Derry off to a flying start as they head to Enniskillen

Ulster Championship

Enniskillen vs. City of Derry

Saturday, 2:30pm

Richard McCarter admits he hasn’t seen his players as happy in several seasons as City of Derry head to Enniskillen hoping to make it two wins from two in the Ulster Championship.

The Judges Road side kicked off their new campaign last week with a largely impressive 41-27 win over Ballymoney, a performance and scoreline which the Head Coach was more than content with.

“We knew it would be a really tough game,” McCarter reflected.

“Ballymoney were promoted last year, so we knew they would come up with a lot of confidence because they were used to winning most weeks last season. We knew it would be a tough one and a potential banana skin, but I thought we coped pretty well with it. We had a great start, scoring in the first couple of minutes, but the next 15-20 minutes were pretty sluggish. Then we had a middle period in the game where we were outstanding.

“The only blot on the copybook was that we were 41-15 up with 20 minutes to go and instead if kicking on and winning even more handsomely, we allowed them back into it so it finished 41-27. That was a wee bit of a disappointment, but at the same time, a bonus point win at home, with six tries at home in the first game, we can’t be overly critical.”

A lot has changed at Judges Road in just 12 months. Relegation from the All-Ireland League had a huge psychological effect on everyone at the club and it showed on the pitch early on in Ulster. The players and staff have really bounced back however in 2023.

“When we compare it to this time last year when we played Dromore at home on the first day, we were awful,” McCarter admitted. “The game was over inside 20 minutes and I think they had scored four tries.

“From probably mid to the end of November last year, when, ironically, it was away at Enniskillen and we won with the last play of the game – that really turned our season, and we won 11 of our last 14 matches or something like that. Now we’re started this year with two wins from two. We’re definitely heading in the right direction and this is a level where I feel we can get our confidence back.

“We’re not going to win every week, but we’re going to win more than we lose I like to think, and you can see that in the players. Their confidence levels are through the roof compared to where they were this time last year. It’s great, not just for the league, and all the competitions, but in terms of the boys enjoying their rugby again. This is the first time I’ve seen us look really happy at the start of the season for years.”

Familiar opponent

A very different test awaits City of Derry this week however, with Enniskillen a familiar opponent after some big tussles last season.

“We have done well in the first couple of matches, but we know this Saturday is a big step up as well,” McCarter continued.

“Enniskillen are flying and they have been going well for a few seasons at this level. It’s always difficult to play away from home. We played them three times last year, and we won the two league games, including an away victory, and lost the cup game.

“We know we’re capable of winning up here, but it’s a different kind of mentality because you have to hang in these games. If you are still in the game at half time, you can really kick on in the second half. We have got the ability to do that, but we have got to be wary of their strengths as well.”

The Derry Head Coach is hoping for a similar performance to last Saturday, without the tailing off late in the game.  

“I knew it wouldn’t be perfect on Saturday because were still building, and we’re still at that stage of the season when we’re going to make mistakes and the boys are getting up to match fitness, but some of the tries we scored were incredible,” he said. #

“The conditions were very, very hot and the ground was rock hard; it was perfect for running rugby, but it doesn’t make it easier at the same time when it’s so hot, so it was fairly impressive.”