Barton expecting a ‘step up’ against Cavan
By Steven Doherty
DERRY manager Damian Barton is predicting a ‘step up’ when Derry travel to Breffni Park on Saturday to play Cavan.
Barton was speaking soon after his side’s comfortable nine point demolition of Fermanagh at Celtic Park on Sunday but he immediately sounded a warning that the Breffnimen in their own backyard will be an altogether more onerous task this weekend.
"Cavan are going to be tough opposition, especially in Breffni Park. They are a good side and it is a step up for us next week” Barton told the County Derry Post.
“I am not being disrespectful to Fermanagh in any way but Cavan at home are always tough and a great place to play competitive football.”
The Newbridge man was reflecting after a game where his side’s much improved second half showing saw them snuff out a Fermanagh side that had the upper hand in the opening 35 minutes.
"We were disappointed because we started very flat” explained the Derry manager. “We gave an awful lot of ball away. I think we gave five kick passes and four hand passes and we played very laterally. We lacked penetration but we expected that was what it was going to be like.”
Barton admitted that Derry’s over-exertions in last week’s McKenna Cup final may well have produced a somewhat anaemic opening half at Celtic Park.
"Maybe there was a bit of a hangover from it. The McKenna Cup was good to us but at the same time it disrupted our arrangements, shall we say, in terms of preparations. It is great to have played in the final and again we could and probably should have won but there was certainly a bit of a backlash from it I would say. We were flat at the start and that’s what I thought it was.”
Derry were much improved after the break and hit 1-7 without reply in quick succession to confirm the win in their opening National League fixture.
"We needed it” maintained Barton. “We were one down at half-time and went two down immediately after it. But goals make the significant difference in any game and so it proved.
"Ryan Bell went in to midfield and did well but I still think we conceded too much. We were too porous through our middle third as was proved in the last five or ten minutes when Fermanagh had a couple of opportunities. So there is plenty to work on but I am very happy with the performance and the victory.”
Cavan v Derry
Saturday, 7pm
Breffni Park
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 07825 711978. Or you can email john.gill@derrynews.net at any time.