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BBC Pundits Baffled By Derry's 'Naivety' With Sweeper Keeper Tactics Against Donegal

BBC Pundits Baffled By Derry's 'Naivety' With Sweeper Keeper Tactics Against Donegal
Rob O'Halloran
By Rob O'Halloran Updated
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There was a major shock in the Ulster Senior Football Championship as  defending champions Derry were emphatically sent packing by Donegal on Saturday evening.

Division One winners Derry were hunting a third provincial title on the spin against a side in the midst of a rebuild under legendary manager Jim McGuinness.

However, it was McGuinness who got the better of old sparring partner Mickey Harte, his side scoring 4-11 to Derry's 0-17.

The match was tightly contested early on until Daire Ó Baoill had the nous to lob Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch from distance, the first of his two goals on the day.

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Derry would cut the deficit to a point going into the interval but Ó Baoill repeated his first-half feat by again catching Lynch - who was playing high up the field - out with another lobbed score.

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Oisin Gallen added a third for Donegal as they extended their second-half advantage before Lynch was again caught way out from his goal and Jamie Brennan took full advantage.

GAA legends blast Derry tactic

Former GAA players Oisin McConville, Michael Murphy and Phily McMahon were all perplexed by the tactical 'naivety' shown by Harte's Derry in persisting with Lynch sweeping high up the field.

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The trio were on punditry duty for BBC Northern Ireland's broadcast of the Championship fixture, sharing their dismay at what they had seen.

McConville noted how Lynch looked vulnerable 'over the top' to long kickouts in the League final against Dublin.

OMc: "You wonder why Odhran Lynch had to press up so much. I know it's something they've worked on. I know it's worked for them all year.

"But everybody leaving Croke Park that day after the National League final said Derry is going to be caught over the top.

"It was slightly different in the way they were caught, as I said at half time. But when they were caught, they were ultimately punished today."

MM: "And they were caught once... the naivety to continue to keep doing it.

"I am sure it's a strength (that) they want to keep doing and they don't want to be backed down from doing but (when) caught once (they should have changed)."

OM: "What do you do? Do you back down or?"

PM: "What you can do is you can get the 'keeper to come up and take the last man and then the full back goes up into that kick out zone.

"But the naievty ... if you concede one goal, OK learn from it. If they didn't concede those three goals that is a tighter game."

Donegal's reward is a semi-final meeting with either Tyrone or Cavan and they will have dreams of a fairytale return for McGuinness in the provincial championship.

Meanwhile, Derry's route to the All-Ireland final is set to be more difficult than it could have been, although they will still have strong hopes of claiming the Sam Maguire Cup later this year.

SEE ALSO: Kerry Legend Identifies Crucial Advantage All-Ireland Rivals Have Over The Kingdom

 

 

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