McErlain hoping Derry can learn from tough opener

By Michael McMullan

DERRY u-20 manager Damian McErlain said his side’s hard-fought win over Monaghan will be a benefit going forward in the Ulster Championship.

The Oakleafers needed a Tommy Rogers two-pointer in the closing stages to pull clear in Castleblayney.

After trailing by three points early on, Derry hit four points without reply to lead by one at the break.

They pushed three ahead before a Max McGinnity penalty levelled matters. When Monaghan pushed ahead, Cody Rocks kicked an equaliser before Rogers pulled the trigger to win the game.

“Our reaction after conceding that (penalty) was really, really good,” McErlain said.

“In the small moments we were pressing and had the willingness to turn the ball over, the desire to dig ourselves out.

“We did that for a period as well and then it took a while to get the scores at the finish.”

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A factor in Derry’s victory was winning a breaking back from Monaghan captain Jamie Mooney’s kick-out after Rocks had levelled the game at 1-8 to 0-11. It led to the key Rogers score.

Before that, the Cremartin man had been finding a white jersey and it looked like it would be enough to help the home side to victory.

“The kick-outs are tough to get away,” McErlain said. “We didn’t have a good night on our own kick-out so we’ll be working on that.

“We did fairly well on Jamie’s as well at times, so that’s just the same on both ends.”

McErlain’s main emotion was delight at winning, having expected nothing other than a battle.

Monaghan and Derry had high-pressure games at minor level between the same groups of players.

Derry were without James Sargent who is on his way back from injury with Luke Grant also coming back from a layoff.

Monaghan were without their key trio of Tommy Mallen, Sean Óg McElwain and Max Maguire, with the latter a late withdrawal before throw-in.

Tommy Rogers scored 0-3 in Derry’s win

“It’s a first-round group stage match and there’s a massive amount of learning for us,” McErlain said.

“There’s no use in winning group stage matches easily because they’re no use to you down the line.

“We’ll take a serious amount of learning out of that and hopefully it’ll stands us in some good stead with tough games ahead in the group now as well.”

Derry face Fermanagh in their next game. The Erne County led Donegal all they way on Wednesday night before being pipped right at the end by last year’s beaten Ulster finalists.

“We have Fermanagh on Saturday week and then we have Donegal,” McErlain pointed out.

“In that period of time, we have two games in four or five days so that’s a real heavy, heavy period.

“Rocks came off there. That’s his second game maybe in six months so he was always going to find it tight enough going.

“You hope your panel is good enough, to tap into whatever 35 men that you have. We just have to keep improving.

“It’s the first night out so all the teams will drastically improve every week. You can play challenge matches all you like but that is just a totally different level of preparation there.”