Derry manager Damien McErlain was in high spirits after his side joined an exclusive club by winning back-to-back All-Ireland minor football titles, beating Ulster rivals Armagh 2-7 to 0-10.
Speaking to TG4, the gaffer was disappointed with his side's first-half performance but delighted with how they settled into the game in the second period.
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Labhraíomar leis an mbainisteoir buacach, Damien McErlain, tar éis an chluiche. Beidh Doire ag ceiliúradh ar feadh tamaill!
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“We were disappointed with the first half. I thought we stood off a small bit, weren’t putting enough pressure on the ball, and gave up poor scores from turnovers,” McErlain said.
We made significant improvements in our game, not immediately after halftime, but within five or six minutes. Our key players stepped up, and we focused on scoring goals, which proved to be a game-changer. We managed to score a goal in each half, adapting to the game's dynamics.
Despite the overwhelming noise from the crowd, our team managed to lift themselves and lead from the front...
I think any county that wants to be serious contenders at the top table at senior level, you’ve got to have that crop of minors coming through every few years.
Yes, we have a particular group coming through and the 2022 group as well. It will come in cycles. You know Derry won't win Ulster every year, so we need to take the opportunity when it knocks on the door.
READ HERE: Joe Canning Points Out One Thing That Makes Cork All-Ireland Run Even More Impressive
Derry boss feels minor grade should return to U18
When asked if he would like to see the minor age group return to U18, McErlain responded with yes and believes it would benefit clubs and counties. The manager also believes that the final should return to Croke Park as part of the curtain raiser to the senior final.
"Look at the U18 thing. No one really explained it to me. The counties have all returned to U18 at the club level, causing confusion for club and county groups. Someone has to take the bull by the horns; I think it should go back to U18,” McErlain said.
It's just a better age and better fitness; I think there's too much of a gap between U20 and senior. The GAA haven’t come out and said this is the group that said this has to happen.
The decision seems to have just come from a committee room, and I don’t see the justification for it. You can see clubs giving out that they have lost so many players because there's such a gap between U17 and U20, even to get lads ready for club football.
I just don’t understand it; if they are using exams as an excuse, that’s not an excuse either because the boys are playing right through the exams, so I just don’t get it.
A lot of my squad won't get the chance to play in Croke Park now. It could be before the All-Ireland final, as I feel there's no buildup before it, but I wouldn’t start the inter-county season as a result.
Wise words which will probably go unnoticed by higher powers
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