By Niall Gartland

DERRY’S supreme level of fitness levels have been apparent for all to see in their victories to date, and Martin McElkennon says the truncated season means that teams don’t need to pace themselves like they would under a more traditional format.

Martin McElkennon was Eamonn Coleman’s right-hand man during his second stint in charge with Derry, and he was also manager for a short spell at Cavan, whom the Oak Leafers play in their third and final group stage match this weekend.

He’s been mightily impressed by Rory Gallagher’s side, and says that a combination of factors have been behind their rich vein of form, including their impressive levels of conditioning.

“In normal circumstances, teams wouldn’t want to be at peak fitness at the start of the league as they’d be hoping to play well into the summer.

“But with the leagues being compressed, things are different, and Derry look to me like a team that’s very well-conditioned.

“If you’re very fit during a short season, you’re probably going to do well.”

He also said that Conor Glass’s decision to return home last season is a huge boost to Derry. He’s taken a while to find his feet, understandably, but now he’s really starting to motor and it’s no coincidence they already have one foot in the league semi-finals.

“They now have a bit of power and speed in the middle third, Glass is back from Australia and that’s a massive plus.

“When I was in Derry in the late ‘90s with Coleman, I’d the pleasure of working with Anthony Tohill for three years. He was a cut above the rest of us with his attitude and mindset. He’d been in Australia for a spell as well, and I’ve no doubt Glass has brought that same drive back home with him.

“I’ve also been really impressed with young Shane McGuigan up front, he scored 2-5 against Fermanagh and apart from a penalty it was all from play.

“Gareth McKinless is a huge boost as well, I’ve watched him in club football the last few years and he’s an excellent player.”

McElkennon also spent three years at Cavan in the mid-noughties, working alongside Coleman as coach before switching to manager when Coleman was ill in 2006. In his final year involved, he brought their current team captain Raymond Galligan into the team – albeit as a forward.

“Raymond Galligan’s the only survivor from when I was in Cavan. We brought him in as a forward to take free kicks for us, he was only a young lad. I was delighted he got his Ulster medal and you saw how emotional he was. He was deadly accurate from frees and Cavan’s ball retention was very good.”

McElkennon doesn’t expect Derry to run riot this weekend with so much at stake. Cavan can still progress to the semis, but he still gives Derry the nod.

“Cavan have to play Tyrone in Omagh in the championship, and if they come out of Omagh with a win that day it’ll be some achievement. But this weekend, you’d have to say that Derry are the form team.

“I don’t expect Derry to rack up another 15-point victory, it’ll be cagey, but on current form I’d have to go for them.”