Derry still with plenty to work on admits Ciaran Meenagh after Antrim win

Ciaran Meenagh says Derry still have plenty to work on ahead of an Ulster Championship semi-final meeting with Monaghan or Cavan.

The Oak Leaf manager was in a reflective mood as he was asked to sum up Saturday's one sided quarter-final victory over Antrim in Celtic Park, a game in which goals from Lachlan Murray and Paul Cassidy had Derry in cruise control by the three quarter mark. The 2022 and 2023 Ulster champions would eventually finish well clear of the Saffrons at 2-23 to 1-13 but having passed up numerous other goal opportunities in a tie they were expected to win, Meenagh wasn't about to get carried away.

Paul Cassidy of Derry shoots at goal under pressure from John Morgan of Antrim during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Derry and Antrim at Find Insurance Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

placeholder image — Paul Cassidy of Derry shoots at goal under pressure from John Morgan of Antrim during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Derry and Antrim at Find Insurance Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

"My thoughts are just that we have the win," explained the Oak Leaf boss, "It was never going to be easy. It was sort of a no-win situation.

"Antrim came with a very definite plan and we knew what that plan would be in terms of frustrating us in their attack and general play. They came with a very deliberate tactic on their own kick-out as well. The most frustrating thing is just what we left behind us, particularly in the first half in terms of goal chances.

Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh at Find Insurance Celtic Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

"We didn’t play challenge games in that period (since the league finished). We did a block of training and I think we’ve got the players up to speed physically but there’s just a bit of rust there in terms of the intricacies of our team play. We've plenty to work on.

"The obvious one is we’ve created loads of goal chances, which is a very pleasing thing. It would be worse if you weren’t creating them, but you’ve got to nail them. The levels will go up substantially now in our next game and we’ll take a look at that tomorrow. I’m confident that we will improve for the next day because we will need to."

The Derry manager revealed that players not involved on Saturday night would be released for club games on Sunday to provide invaluable game-time and keep the panel sharp.

"I’ll be in Clones myself but we’ll have a big management team out," he explained, "We’ll be around the grounds and taking a look at the lads that didn’t feature today.

Lachlan Murray scores his side's first goal during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Derry and Antrim at Find Insurance Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

"They’ll get a chance tomorrow but I say to the lads all the time: you get a chance every night you come to training. 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."

With both Ulster Championship finalists assured of a home draw in the All Ireland Series, it won't just be a place in the provincial decider on the line when Derry travel to the Athletic Grounds on May 2nd for the semi-final.

"It’s big for everybody, but whoever our opponents will be will have a much more battle-hardened game under their belt as a result," added the Derry boss, "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."