League Final almost inevitable for Derry

ALLIANZ NFL ROUND 6   |   Derry v Roscommon   |   Sunday, Celtic Park, 1.45pm   |   Referee: David Gough (Meath)

Derry have one foot and four toes of the other in the league final later this month after Sunday’s victory in Castlebar.

With Derry top of the pile and a +25 score difference to their name, it would take a collapse this weekend - coupled with Kerry putting a big score on Galway - for Mickey Harte’s side not to make the final.

“It can change very quickly,” Harte said in caution after Derry’s 3-15 to 2-13 win over reigning champions Mayo.

“You can’t say we are signed and sealed in the final but we are in a strong position to get there so we’ll have to wait until the next day.”

Derry were nine points up after Conor McCluskey rifled a shot to the net after 43 minutes but were left to hold on after a spirited Mayo comeback.

"I wasn't happy with certain things, obviously the start of the game,” Harte said. “Mayo started very well, we were playing with the breeze and it didn't look a great day for us but then we put together some good play and put up a decent lead at half-time.”

It took sharp defending from Chrissy McKaigue and Diarmuid Baker to close down the lively Tommy Conroy with a goal chance.

Paul Towey did find the net with his first touch but Odhrán Lynch made a brilliant save to deny Jordan Flynn a second goal and there was Ryan O’Donoghue’s shot going over the bar in a frantic finale.

“I thought we had an easier end to our day but it proved otherwise,” Harte added. “Mayo were serious operators when they came back at us there.

“They closed it two points again and lucky enough we had a few men to pick off vital scores to give us that bit of a cushion again. A lot of learning in it and we're lucky to learn without losing.”

Derry started without injured duo Conor Doherty and Emmett Bradley with Gareth McKinless called ashore after 42 minutes.

It’s unlikely Harte will risk any of them this weekend with Donegal’s Ulster Championship visit just four weeks later.

Slimmest of chances

Roscommon come to Celtic Park this weekend with Connacht rivals Galway joining them in the relegation zone.

Monaghan are already down. The Rossies drew with Galway but Padraic Joyce’s side have three points on them on score difference.

Derry manager Mickey Harte are closing in on the league final heading into this weekend's game with Roscommon at Celtic Park. (Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE)

Galway make the journey to Killarney to take on a Kerry side with the slimmest of chances to making the league final.

Roscommon need to turn the tables on Derry and hope Kerry can keep their foot on the gas.

Daire Cregg, Ciaran Murtagh, Enda and Donie Smith will be the players Derry need to keep a tight leash on this weekend.

There is also the added spice of the draw two years ago that effectively threw a spanner in Derry’s promotion train.

It was a game where Shane McGuigan was sent off on the advice of Sunday’s referee David Gough who was on the line that day in Dr Hyde Park.

McGuigan was reported and missed the Galway game the following week with suspension.

Sunday is different. Derry are safe in a division they want to remain in and are odds on for booking a final spot and getting a run out on Croke Park ahead of the summer.

Derry’s season has been a mark of consistency though it will be interesting to see who Harte opts to rest this weekend with a hectic spell of games coming down the tracks.