Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final

DERRY V ARMAGH

Sunday, Celtic Park, 4pm

BY NIALL MCCOY

WHEN Armagh travelled to Celtic Park in 2010, they became the first side to beat Derry in the championship at the venue since Down did likewise 16 years earlier in the game regarded by many as the best of all time.

That Orchard county win was never going to be remembered in such terms, although it did bring a fair sprinkling of drama. Eoin Bradley was sent off, Gerard O’Kane missed a penalty and Jamie Clarke scored the decisive goal from the bench with his first few touches in Ulster Championship football.

It was notable because Derry didn’t tend to lose too often at Celtic Park, but any idea that the venue is a fortress has long been shattered.

Since that defeat in 2010, the Oakleaf county have lost an incredible eight championship games at Celtic Park. Opposition teams no longer fear the ground – and that is something that will be particularly galling for the Oakleafers.

Even if the record had been good, they would have been unable to make use of the crowd anyway on Sunday due to Covid restrictions. In truth, the home support would likely have been comfortably out-numbered by the visiting support so perhaps it’s an advantage for Rory Gallagher’s side that there will be no din from the stands.

Derry haven’t been knocked out of their stride in their two games since supporters were banned though as they recorded Division Three wins over Longford and Offaly.

What’s clear is that Gallagher’s tactical instructions are starting to seep through – and there are obvious shades of Donegal 2012 in there. Gallagher, of course, was a selector for the Tir Chonaill county in that All-Ireland winning season.

The basics are similar. Derry defend in big numbers and often you will see 10 bodies around the defensive 45-metre line. They get players around the man in possession and if they force a turnover, they break at speed with plenty committed to the charge forward.

Like Donegal in 2012, Gallagher wants multiple sources of scoring rather than relying on one or two main attackers, in this case Shane McGuigan. Eight different scorers is probably the lowest number acceptable. Derry had 12 scorers against Longford and six against Offaly. McGuigan hit 0-2 of 2-14 in round six and 0-5 of 1-12 in round seven. Work is still to be done.

What the Offaly win also showed was the pure physical demands of Gallagher’s system. The Oakleafers clearly tired around the 50-minute mark and even when Offaly had a man less, Derry were heavy on their feet with a gale in their faces and heavy pitch not helping their cause.

At full pelt, they have the physicality and talent to deal with Armagh. Chrissy McKaigue is a master in stripping the ball while his Sleacht Néill clubmate Brendan Rogers is enjoying the freedom that allows him to pop up nearly anywhere. Ciaran McFaul’s powerful runs through should also cause Armagh problems.

Conor Glass got a vital 67 minutes in the legs on Sunday too and his battle with Niall Grimley this weekend will be an old-school fight for the skies. Glass brought real strength to the middle sector against Offaly but, understandably given his return from Australia earlier this month, his skillset remains rusty.

Grimley has been one of Armagh’s stand-out players over the last couple of seasons but the strapping on his left knee suggests that he is not fully fit, and he didn’t have the same impact as he usually does in their loss to Roscommon and the win over Clare, which secured a return to Division One for the first time since 2012. Worryingly, he was replaced after 50 minutes against the Banner county.

Kieran McGeeney does have options now in that middle sector. The O’Neill brothers, Oisin and Rian, are used to rotating between attack and midfield while on Crossmaglen duty and are falling into that role as well in orange. Jarly Og Burns, who has come off the bench in both games, also looks much sharper than he did pre lockdown.

The O’Neill brothers are in superb form – kicking 0-45 between them in the league – and rightly received lots of plaudits for their showing in the promotion-securing win over Clare, but perhaps what went under the radar was the influence of Rory Grugan. The Ballymacnab man scored three points, set up Callum Cumiskey for Armagh’s only goal in the opening exchanges and generally delivered 70 minutes of super intelligent football. Stefan Campbell also looked much sharper when introduced from the bench having been hampered by a niggle against Roscommon.

And then there is Jamie Clarke. Ten years ago he announced himself on the national stage with that cameo at Celtic Park. Right now, he is in the shadows somewhat, but what a chance to deliver a reminder that he is still here. The Neasden Gaels player always loved the big occasion.

And that is why Armagh should just about find a way to advance. They have massive problems at the back, and their needless fouling has been an issue that just will not disappear, but they have an incredible attacking unit.

Only Kerry and Cork had higher scoring averages than McGeeney’s side in the league this year. In 2021, they will compete with the best in Division One.

These are the sort of games where they must show that they are a team heading towards the top bracket. Armagh by four and Derry’s home woes to continue.