We’re back in National League action this day week. Derry are our opponents in Round 6 of this Division One campaign, Celtic Park is the venue and the match throws in at 1.30pm, with Fergal Kelly of Longford reffing it. It’s live on TG4 and Midwest will have live radio commentary on it as well.
From our perspective, any talk about the Oaf Leaf County will, of course, be largely viewed through the prism of our record against them last year. They were in two very different states of mind the two times we met them in 2024 but the outcome, a negative one from our point of view, proved the same on both occasions.
When we met them in the National League on St Patrick’s Day, Derry were absolutely flying. They were, at that stage, the form team in the country and were being loudly spoken of then as possible All-Ireland contenders.
Keen to avoid a second successive Division One final, we weren’t massively bothered how we got on that day. Derry, by contrast, were keen as mustard to make the Croke Park final and that helped them to a five-point win over us. They then went on to win the League title, beating Dublin after a penalty shoot-out in the final.
It was a very different Derry team we subsequently met back in Castlebar a little over three months later. They’d already been beaten three times in the Championship – with Westmeath the sole team they’d managed to get the better of up until then – before staggering into MacHale Park to face us in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final. They were begging, it seemed, to be put out of their misery.
Had we gone for the jugular early on that day, you’d have to think that they most likely would have folded. Incredibly, however, we opted instead to sit off them and let them play their way into the game, following which we could never shake clear of them. The penalty shoot-out loss we eventually suffered that evening summed up a Championship campaign for us where, time after time, we failed to close the deal when the opportunity presented itself.
Our previous record against them away from home is, to be honest, neither here nor there. The most recent time we played them up in Celtic Park was a full decade ago and the sole Mayo survivor from then is, of course, Aidan O’Shea. He scored three points that day as we won by two.
I can also see from perusing the blog’s results archive that we’ve only ever played them in the National League a total of twelve times on their patch. As well as Celtic Park, by the way, those locations have included Ballinascreen and Bellaghy. Our away record against them in the League is okay, with five wins, five losses and two draws. That, of course, is all just ancient history at this stage.
Of greater relevance is where they’re at now and what this could mean for how the game will go the next day.
Along with ourselves, Derry were identified by the bookies as the team most likely for the hop from Division One this year. With no wins, just a single draw and four losses racked up in the five games they’ve played to date, the glib conclusion one would be forgiven in making is that they’ve backed up this ante-post rating.
That, however, fails to take into account both the extremely fine margins between teams in the top tier this season and also how unlucky Derry have been not to have something more tangible to show for their efforts thus far.
In Round 1 they were beaten 2-13 to 1-9 by Tyrone in Omagh. That scoreline makes it sound like a decisive enough defeat but the wild swings in fortune that have become part and parcel of this League campaign played under the ever-changing new rules were apparent in the narrative of that opening round meeting between the Ulster neighbours.
In fact, Derry went into the final ten minutes of that one narrowly in front. Then, with the match level in the closing stages, Malachy O’Rourke’s team came with a late charge, posting 1-4 without reply to claim the spoils.
In Round 2 they lost a bizarre game at home to a Kerry team whose first outing of the year it was, their Round 1 match against Donegal having fallen victim to the storm the previous weekend.
Derry were well in the hunt for League points in this one too, leading by five as late as the 64th minute. When Kerry pulled a goal back soon after, the game still looked safe for the home team. However, they then conceded two further goals in the final 90 seconds to lose by three points on a madcap scoreline of 5-15 to 1-24.
The one point Derry have managed to get so far in this campaign came in Round 3. That was against Galway at Celtic Park where they came from nine adrift at half-time to draw 0-16 to 1-13. Indeed, they could have won it only for John Daly’s block on Ethan Doherty’s score attempt with just ten seconds left before the hooter.
There were no such dramatics in their Round 4 meeting with Dublin at Croke Park. The home side were dominant throughout in that one, cruising to a 3-20 to 2-12 win over the Oak Leafers.
Last weekend, however, Paddy Tally’s team looked for long stretches to have Donegal’s number when the sides met in Round 5 at Ballyshannon. Derry led by seven on 58 minutes but then lost Brendan Rogers to injury and Donegal stormed back to shoot 1-7 without reply to win by three on a scoreline of 1-22 to 1-19.
So it’s been a case of nearly, almost and not quite by Derry so far. But, you know, they could just as easily have two or three wins under their belts at this stage and, with quality throughout their ranks and plenty of big game experience, they’ll relish the chance to get off the mark in this campaign, albeit belatedly, against us.
For our part, we need to take a leaf out of Kerry’s book and look to channel the pain from a previous year’s defeat against the same opposition into motivation for turning the tables at this meeting. As an added incentive, securing our top tier status for next year is a prize worth battling for at Celtic Park as well.
The bookies are calling this one an evens game but how do you see it? Let’s end with our usual pre-game poll to test the temperature.
How will we do against Derry?
- Win (52%, 483 Votes)
- Lose (34%, 317 Votes)
- Draw (14%, 129 Votes)
Total Voters: 929
Damien says:
March 9, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Heading up to Derry on Saturday to make a weekend out of it. Players should be looking forward to playing Derry given recent form.
My Ball says:
March 9, 2025 at 8:46 pm
Recent form Damien would suggest that they will be hard beat .
Another good test . Hope Mcstay continues to blood new players
Clare says:
March 9, 2025 at 8:50 pm
Will be a tough test for us. Even if Derry are near bottom of table.
They are a proud county and physical.
If we play our best like v Kerry first half we should win.
But we shouldn't underestimate Derry.
Just a thought says:
March 9, 2025 at 8:56 pm
Any reports on any challenge games this weekend.
Cp says:
March 9, 2025 at 10:30 pm
They were to play Kildare but I haven’t heard any reports from it yet.
Willie Joe says:
March 9, 2025 at 11:09 pm
New pod up on Patreon! This is one to savour: ahead of St Colman's Hogan Cup final appearance on St Patrick's Day, Mike looks back at the title-winning team of 1977 in the company of three of that team - captain Eugene Macken, Charlie Gilmartin and Padraic Coyne.
Ever the optimist says:
March 10, 2025 at 7:01 am
Derry might have a kick in them yet alright. This campaign is a hard one to figure when it comes to results and performances. There's a few far from safe and it'll be a dog fight in the maiden city, make no mistake.
Rock says:
March 10, 2025 at 9:59 am
Expected a really tough encounter. Their need is greater so that may count for something on Sunday.
JP says:
March 10, 2025 at 10:03 am
If you win the kickout battle 60:40 are you more likely to win a game under the new rules compared to the old rules?
Mayo Man for life says:
March 10, 2025 at 11:05 am
I heard 20's had a good challenge game on Saturday against the Kingdom in Limerick. Both sides where close to full strength with respective championships only a few weeks away apart from lads still involved in Colleges football,.
Tirawleybaron says:
March 10, 2025 at 12:17 pm
In last years championship match (and all of this years league matches) Mayo showed they were the better team when they push up on the opposition and dont sit back trying to control the match.
The new rules (especially with the goalkeeper tied up now) reward a team who presses high and keeps the pressure on a team in their own half.
Any team that tries to sit back and defend a lead, struggles to win their own kick out and get out of their own half. Controlling a game is no longer possible (and good riddance too, as Mayo were terrible at it anyway)
The first half display v Kerry should be the default method of play for Mayo.
Any chance of finding a left foot free taker who can tackle and win turnovers?
Gizmobobs says:
March 10, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Mayo man for life, good to hear as they were meant to have got a good mulching off Derry week before.
catcol says:
March 10, 2025 at 1:31 pm
The last two rounds will be something else. You could argue that teams that win the last two games will have a pep in their step for championship, even if the Galways and Donegals don't need to win. Winning is a good habit. Derry will be very dangerous - I'm amazed at those stats Willie Joe showing our record against them to be fairly decent, and thank you for them by the way.
One of the things that I really liked about the Kerry win, was our high press. This has been missing from our tool box for a while and it's good to see it reinstated. It's a two-way street of course and I noticed our backs struggle against opposition press. Fluency in moving out of defence and being stick with opposing backlines is something that will stand to us in the coming months.
JP says:
March 10, 2025 at 2:43 pm
I was thinking over the weekend of your second half subs resulting in the opposition goalie looking out at lots of Mayo 6'1" to 6'5".
Aiidan OShea
Jordan Flynn
Diarmuid O'Connor
Jack Carney
Bob Tuohy
Mathew Ruane
Stephen Coen
David McBrien
Donnacha McHugh
That's niine players 6'1"+
Darren McHale is doing well as a playmaker. You have Fergal Boland to come in.
Davitt Neary is a pace threat, you have Tommy hopefully to come in.
Paul Towey is a very reliable player at coming in to get 1-2 pts.
Eoghan McLoughlin is a good bench pace weapon.
Paddy Durcan hopefully to be back, you'd figure bench role this year to mind him post injury.
Everyone available I like the kind of team we might be able to finish games with.
Current bench might end up better than our peak years bench!!
Mayoman51 says:
March 10, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Great that the game is on TV, any update on injuries?
Ever the optimist says:
March 10, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Played golf up that neck of the woods, across in buncrana and ballyliffin, a while back. Great spot for a weekend away but I'm stuck with work commitments. Good luck to those making the trip. Lovely people in Derry.
MO2023 says:
March 10, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Opportunity for a small measure of revenge for the Mayo players and management after getting knocked out of the championship at home to Derry last summer. Now Mayo can relegate Derry in their home patch.
catcol says:
March 10, 2025 at 5:41 pm
That's the spirit MO2023!
We rarely channel spite in Mayo and we should use it much more as a weapon. Kerry - come within a few points of them, never mind beating them in anything competitive, - they'll be talking about revenge until the next encounter.
Mikey says:
March 10, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Planning on travelling up for the game, never been to a game there previously.
Same as most people, I see this as being a tough game, it would be great to win as would expect that Derry will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at this one, there would be more to gained than winning against a weakened Donegal team in R7.
WestKerry says:
March 10, 2025 at 7:27 pm
I'd encourage anyone that can attend to do so.
I was up there for the league opener and its a brilliant city.
Celtic Park is a fine ground, tight and compact.
Derry really should have beaten us and Donegal last week so I'd imagine they'll want to get their first win at home.
Rusty Bridges says:
March 10, 2025 at 7:42 pm
@Ever the optimist, that's a beautiful part of the country for golf
Artie Quinn says:
March 10, 2025 at 10:46 pm
Derry is a lovely city and people very friendly.
Celtic park is a nice wee ground in its own right but Ballinascreen and Bellaghy are more traditional areas for Gaelic games and many Gaels would prefer if games were hosted in South Derry.
As regards result,well Paddy Tally has a tough gig and it will take time to establish his mark,but if Mayo don't bring their A game they cud be surprised.
Ocean Kisses Ireland says:
March 11, 2025 at 9:02 am
Any buses going to Derry for the game from Castlebar, Westport, Swinford? A few of us hoping to go but would be nice to let someone else do the driving.
Ever the optimist says:
March 11, 2025 at 10:00 am
It is rustybridges, especially the links during the summer. Good place for hospitality and atmosphere I think.
Mayoman51 says:
March 11, 2025 at 11:13 am
saw there's a bus going from Shrule
Thedarkyfinn says:
March 11, 2025 at 11:30 am
The proposed changes have been adopted but could be subject to more changes later is the way I read it. By in large ok with them with the bigger issue now removed so should help the game..
https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0311/1501368-gaa-approves-all-frc-changes-including-to-3v3-rule/
On Derry I expect a tough match as its a must win for them and they have not been playing badly. Should have a championship pitch to it so a nice test
Fw says:
March 11, 2025 at 11:33 am
Some good tweaks there to the new rules.
Especially happy with the amendment to the hooter and added excitement/fairness with that.
Let's see how it goes in the last 2 games of the league but I'm hoping these are the rules for the championship.
Rock says:
March 11, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Most of the amendments make sense. I can see there being some issues with having to let a lad sprint away untouched after a clean catch around the middle.
Tirawleybaron says:
March 11, 2025 at 3:18 pm
At lest they changed the penalty for breach of the 3 up rule to what Mayo thought it was a few weeks ago.
The modification for the mark is a big change.
If you win a mark, you can run 4m, get fouled (as you likely will be), take a solo and go and off you go.
Every small lad on the field will be jumping 1 handed to break the ball from the fielders hands.
The rule itself is needed to stop the slowing down play tactics after a mark, but there will be a heap of handy frees and complaints for the next two rounds of the league.
Just hope Mayo aren't the slowest to getting used to the changes.
TsuDhoNim says:
March 11, 2025 at 4:09 pm
@Tirawleybaron: Oddly, the change on the kick-out mark will be slowing the game down there a little compared to the old version.
Under the old rule, you'd be awarded the free for that infraction at the point of the illegal challenge. So take the S&G allowing for a quick ball inside, providing a great option at times to speed the game up & potentially create more goal chances.
Now, with the free awarded that 50m further forward, it rules out the S&G there as an option as it can't be taken immediately. Depending on the length of the pitch, that could still be up to a 50m free from the opposition goal (though could be as close as a 13m free too, depending on where the mark was claimed). At those kinds of distances, I'd have loved having the potential option to quickly play on kept alive. Something along the lines of "Free kick from where the illegal challenge is made. The free may be taken by any player
on the team awarded the free, with the option to advance it 50m for the team being delayed in their possession" could have married the best of both worlds there.
No doubt says:
March 11, 2025 at 4:13 pm
After all the criticism of mcstay about a bit of leeway regarding stepping over the line in 3v3 it looks like he was right after all.. .regarding removing the word "directly" for the 2pt score what is the story now if someone touches it b4 it goes over the bar is it still a one point or is it 2 now
TsuDhoNim says:
March 11, 2025 at 4:17 pm
@No doubt: Still a 1 point score if a player touches it.
The 'directly' just led to confusion around things like if it bounced over the bar or hit a post or crossbar on the way over. The mechanics haven't changed (the guidance had always limited "directly" to only be player touches with the "i.e." it detailed), just a tidy up of the wording used removing one that never should have been there.
Damien says:
March 11, 2025 at 4:25 pm
For the person looking a bus, the person running a bus from Shrule is on twitter as @sarahmckirdy if that's any help to you get in contact with them
No doubt says:
March 11, 2025 at 7:22 pm
@tsudhonim.thanks for that. Now is the time to get acquainted with the rules
John+McHale says:
March 11, 2025 at 10:02 pm
I see that 53% of supporters think that Mayo will beat Derry next Sunday. That's a brave call as Derry seem to have found their mojo and playing at home and needing the points to survive will make it a tough one to win. Should we get the result, that would be a brilliant turnaround for the team in the course of a few games!
Clare says:
March 12, 2025 at 6:15 am
@John + Mchale yes no doubt about it will be a very tough game for us in Derrys homeground won't be easy at all.
But if mayo play the fast pace game and bring the chaos think we will win some say Derry need the points more then us probably true but we are also not safe just yet.
We are well capable of beating them lost to penalties to them last year because we just didn't show up in the first half!
Also we owe them one time for the winning mentality to kick in mayo by 3!
Mayonaze says:
March 12, 2025 at 9:13 am
Wow
Ever the optimist says:
March 12, 2025 at 9:41 am
It's all about the start from what I've seen. Dublin started poorly against Kerry but overturned it at the death, not so against Armagh who held out strongly.
Derry seem to be purring quietly and are to be respected considering how unlucky they might consider themselves, especially versus Kerry.
I'm thinking Mr mcstay has had a plan all along and that Mayo will just do enough to stay up. A draw for me. Kerry to beat Armagh and Galway to comfortably beat Dubs (Joyce needs a croker crown). Tyrone to go all out in Donegal with McGuiness content that his boys are safe.
Mayoman51 says:
March 12, 2025 at 10:40 am
are you heading up to Derry Willie Joe? I have to decided to drive up from Dublin if ya need a lift!
Willie Joe says:
March 12, 2025 at 11:58 am
I'm not, Mayoman51. I've decided to sit this one out.
Ontheditch says:
March 12, 2025 at 2:58 pm
We need to see improvement from the kerry game. Not giving Derry forwards so much space, getting in some decent blocks on two point attempts. Hopefully mcLaughlin is working on his solo runs.
We will have no idea of starting team until 1 hour before kick off. Absolute nightmare for sports writers who have to try and do a preview.
Derry need the win, so it will be competitive game.
Great championship sharpener
Gizmobobs says:
March 12, 2025 at 4:34 pm
Ontheditch Given we goal shy and Derry leaking them like no other thats what I would like to see us work on, regardless of result, try and go for goal. Best practice is real life.
Mayomagic says:
March 12, 2025 at 4:46 pm
@John+McHale Derry have found their mojo?
One draw and four defeats, the manner of their defeat to Donegal the last day was all the signs of a side on their way to Division 2 and will struggle to bounce back. They have conceded on average 24 points a game. The loss of Chris McKaigue, Conor McCluskey, Gareth McKinless from their defence has proved a huge difference.
Mayo to win by a few points to spare is what I'm expecting
catcol says:
March 12, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Eoin, indeed any of the Mayo panel, could do worse than look at the highlights of the Colman's '77 win (kindly provided by TSU on the previous blogpost) to study the fine arts of Gaelic football. Much of it was a master class by both teams who didn't seem to know anything other than playing the purest of football. Add in the full house at The Hyde, the anthems - We Shall Overcome, no less, not to mention You'll Never Walk Alone, and you had an epic. Oh and the woman beside the graveyard goal for the whole match - now what exactly was she doing?
TsuDhoNim says:
March 12, 2025 at 6:48 pm
@Mayomagic: A pretty harsh assessment on the Donegal game for them.
The early performance was pretty impressive, their own fans would say their best since the league final last year, where they were leading by 8 with 15 minutes left in the game. It all really swung on losing Rodgers. From there, Derry got cleaned around the middle and couldn't keep Donegal from punching ahead.
Hard to even blame it on losing 1 player so much as it being the straw that broke the camel's back. At that point they were without Rodgers, McEvoy, McFaul, Toner, McKinless, McCluskey, Murphy, Gilmore, O'Donnell & Loughlin from what they'd consider fighting for a first 15 early in the year.
McKinless (ACL) & McCluskey (a recent setback while recovering from a long term layoff after surgery on a groin injury) most likely gone for the year & Rodgers (nasty twisted ankle after getting his studs stuck in the ground against Donegal) out for at least a couple of weeks, so we're unlikely to meet any of those. Wouldn't be shocked with any of the rest of those togging the next day though, and all would be huge additions to their side.
Throw in Murphy, Toner & McFaul to their options against Donegal and they'd have been a different prospect. Throw in another few weeks work after the late appointment of a manger had them a little behind the rest on fitness work & tacitcs where they'll likely improve slightly on both now. Give Loughlin & McGrogan another game to get back to pace after long term lay-offs & they raise it another level. Have any of their forwards (McGuigan, Cassidy, Doherty or McCarron) get close to the levels Bradley or Murray are showing and they go up another step or more, then have them at home this week fighting for their lives and they certainly won't be sitting back comfortably on their way to Division 2. This one will be at 100% of their Championship level, which is absolutely competitive with most in the country.
Which is no harm at all and exactly what our lads would want... I just wouldn't underestimate them as a team with their heads down or given up like Donegal were 2 years ago. They're simply rocked with injuries and coming out the wrong side of some very unfortunate results after playing pretty well (with a couple of those losses squarely on the experiment playing McNicholl in goal, which will be well buried by now given both the rule changes and the fact it failed so spectacularly)
Lahanman says:
March 12, 2025 at 7:40 pm
Congratulations to Rice College senior team who won the All Ireland schools soccer A championship today with a sudden death penalty shoot out win over Blackrock. Hopefully Colemans can do similar on Monday and achieve a double for the county...
Clare says:
March 12, 2025 at 7:45 pm
@Mayomagic agree there with you. If that was us and we had lost 4 games and drew one not a single person on here would be saying we have our mojo back.
FrostTHammer says:
March 12, 2025 at 7:58 pm
My gut says a draw. They ended our championship with one last year, seems fitting for us to relegate them with a draw at their house.
Willie Joe says:
March 12, 2025 at 8:15 pm
New pod up on Patreon: Mike and Rob with Colm Keys chatting about the new rules, the Derry game and the upcoming rugby match at MacHale Park.
Nephin says:
March 12, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Agreed Frost T. Except we had no one to blame for that loss in Castlebar but ourselves after that brutal first half performance. I’ve always said it seemed to me that we were trying to conserve energy for the following week. As it turned out we didn’t need any.
Ever the optimist says:
March 13, 2025 at 7:28 am
You might be right, tsudo, about Derry lagging behind a bit thus far in training etc. It must be an epic battle getting out of Ulster with so many dangerous teams, many of them realistic championship contenders and the league might hinder their prep with that in mind.
A knowledgeable gaa man I bump into at times swears the cup won't be travelling too far this summer anyway. When I mentioned Galway as a likely prospect he (a cork man) brought up the Connacht final as being essential to win psychologically for them to progress. Dublin, ourselves and Kerry being not quite up there yet... rather dismissive, perhaps, but with the draw who knows what may occur. Derry were his outside pick and relegation wouldn't be seen as an inhibiting factor in his eyes.
Kerry will be loving this, I think. It's going to be some July no matter what.
Mayoman51 says:
March 13, 2025 at 2:14 pm
what date is the rugby Willie Joe, are there any spare tickets?
Willie Joe says:
March 13, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Saturday 29th March, Mayoman51. It's a sell-out and was as far back as January.
Mayoman51 says:
March 13, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Thanks WJ, be hard get a ticket so !!