Semi-final will be a “mammoth test”: Meenagh

By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Ciarán Meenagh says the Ulster semi-final is going to be a “mammoth test” as they eye another final spot.

The prize also includes a home draw in the All-Ireland Championship further down the line.

Meenagh will be on Clones on Sunday to run his eye over Monaghan’s showdown with Cavan, as Derry take on the winners.

“It’s big for everybody,” Meenagh said, with eyes looking ahead to what’s coming down the tracks.

“Whoever our opponents will be will have a much more battle-hardened game under their belt as a result.

“We’ll have to get our preparation and our training right and look to train at a level that prepares us for that, because that’s going to be a mammoth task.”

Meenagh said Dan Higgins still faces a race against time with a hamstring injury while Matthew Downey should be back in contention.

Goalkeeper Odhrán Lynch is “getting up through the gears” and will soon come back into the picture.

Meenagh outlined a clean bill of health but pointed to the Derry panelists being released for club action on Sunday.

“A number of the lads that didn’t play today will play club football tomorrow — get a bit of football under their belt — and then we’ll be back out on the pitch on Tuesday night,” he said.

“In two weeks’ time it’ll be the same. I’ve told the lads that. You have to be fair to everybody — the lads are giving a brilliant commitment there. You have to meet them halfway.

“Next weekend it’ll be a different story because we’ll be in preparation mode and we’ll be training. You’re trying to give everybody a fair crack of the whip.”

Club time

Meenagh will be in Clones but said his management team will be taking a look at players in club action as Derry continue their preparations for the upcoming Ulster semi-final.

“They’ll get a chance tomorrow, but I say to the lads: you get a chance every night you come to training,” he said.

“We come to training every night and we play football. If somebody says the lads need football, we take that on in training every night — that’s the way it goes.

“You can only use 20 in any given game and that was the 20 that we used today.”