Derry u-21 captain prepared for defensive Cavan

Derry u-21 captain Emmet McGuckian

DERRY captain Emmet McGuckian believes the Oak Leaf will not have as easy a run next Wednesday against Cavan as they did against Monaghan a week ago in the Ulster u-21 Championship.

In the quarter-final, Derry ran riot against Eamonn McEneaney’s Farney side winning 3-12 to 1-3. McGuckian, who scored 2-1 in the Celtic Park clash, says that the Breffni county’s tactics will be very different.

“Monaghan seemed to go man to man, and their half back line were always attacking which left them open at the back. I can’t see Cavan playing that way, I think they will be a lot more defensive in Brewster Park.”

The quarter-final was truly a one-sided affair, and Derry were 11 points ahead at the break. Yet it is hard to know what to take from the game, were Derry just outstanding, or were Monaghan poor?
There are arguments for both.

“It was great for us to get the ball moving quickly, because it was what we had talked about doing, and what we had worked on training. It was a surprise because that never really happens,” McGuckian said.

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