Derry v Galway: McIver expecting a 'real humdinger'

DERRY’S luck with the home fixtures had to come to an end at some stage, but Monday morning’s draw for the round 3B All-Ireland senior football qualifier away to Galway on Saturday appears particularly precarious. But as onerous task as it is, Derry manager Brian McIver believes that the contest 'has all the makings of being a real humdinger.' Galway will be buoyed with all the confidence that a win up in Ulster brings, and go into this weekend’s game as odds-on favourites. The Tribesmen qualified for the third round of the football qualifiers with a 1-12 to 0-12 win over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds. 2015 proved to be a mixed period during the league for the Connacht despite a good start in their first two outings with wins over Meath and Westmeath, they fell short against Down and against Cavan and Laois but showed great confidence against old rivals Roscommon despite being behind by 7 points at half-time. The game against Kildare proved to be a fantastic display from the Tribesmen which resulted in Kildare being relegated to Division 3 and Galway survived yet another year to stay in Division Two. Galway finished up fourth in Division Two, although their record against Ulster clubs was disappointing with Kevin Walsh’s men coming up short against both Cavan and Down.

Championship form

However, as Derry themselves have amply displayed league form and championship form can be poles apart. Big away wins over New York (2-18 to 0-8) and Leitrim (1-13 to 0-8) brought Galway to that difficult Connacht semi-final against Mayo who had defeated them in the 2014 final. Goals from Danny Comer and a cracker from Gary Sice threatened an upset but Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor’s accuracy from frees (with 0-9) saw Mayo over the line with a four point cushion. That defeat took Galway on their travels to the Athletics Grounds in Armagh where Damian Comer’s goal was enough to see his side win by three points and secure an All Ireland 3B Qualifier against Brian McIver’s Derry. In what many see as the ‘tie of the round’ Galway will host Derry at Pearce Stadium on Saturday evening in a game that is being broadcast by Sky. “At this particular stage you aren’t going to get an easy games in the qualifiers” admits Brian McIver. “All we can do is prepare equally as well as we did for the Donegal game and the Wexford game. An away fixture is always a challenge yes, but this team is well used to these games – they’ve played in Croke Park, they’ve played in Kerry, they’ve played in Cork. And Galway were very impressive last weekend but we know ourselves if we continue to build momentum this game has the makings of a real humdinger.” Derry impressed in Saturday’s win over Wexford at Owenbeg, and it was the Oak Leafer’s greater threat up front that brought the most satisfaction for the Derry manager. With Bradley and particularly O’Boyle forming a dangerous two pronged attack force, Derry ran out comfortable winners. A very tough trip to Galway is Derry’s reward for that victory, and with that the full force of being on the tough side of the draw is about to hit Derry. Patsy not far away

However, having been able to name Patsy Bradley among his subs on Saturday and also tog Mark Craig out, McIver believes that his squad is coming strong at the right time. “Hopefully. The lads that have been coming back have seen some football with their clubs. Patsy asked me for a bit of game time for the club at the weekend and a few others got game time at the weekend too. If we can continue to progress this season the strength and depth of the panel is increasing all the time and the lads that we can bring in have a wee bit of know how and craft and experience. And the youth we’re bringing through is also getting crucial experience at this level. But in really tight championship games its important to have a bench with a few experienced heads on it.” Galway forwards Gary Sice and Michael Lundy will be no stranger to local GAA fans and to Derry’s Slaughtneil players in particular, having scored eight points between them against the Emmet’s for the ultra impressive Corofin in the All Ireland club final. “Brendan Rodgers and Chrissy McKaigue and will get reacquainted with a few of the players from that side” agreed the Ballinderry man. “That Corofin side is as good as any side to win an All Ireland club, and Galway traditionally have always had very, very good footballers. That Galway side have been very successful at under 21 level over the course of the last number of years. They are now coming through at senior level. It’s a great challenge for us but its one we’re looking forward to at the weekend.” The bookmakers may well place the burden of favourites on the home side, but Brian McIver has faith in his own players to return home with the right result. “We know ourselves if we play the way we’re capable of it’s a game we can win. If we get our act together, become a wee bit more ruthless in our finishing we’re a match for anybody. We’ll be going down to Salthill knowing that it’s a mighty challenge but we know we’re capable of winning it.”

FULL INTERVIEW in DERRY NEWS