End of an era?

The recent announcement that Derry's talismanic forward, Paddy Bradley, will retire from inter-county football after the county's exit from this years championship, could see the former All-Star exit the big stage in the most ignominious of fashions.

In reality, however, Derry could not have hoped for an easier draw in the All-Ireland Qualifiers and will start a double-header of games at Dr Cullen park, in Carlow, with the throw-in at 5pm. Next up will be a hurling match, with Carlow entertaining Laois at 7pm.

Apart from the false dawn of beating Tyrone at Celtic Park in the first round of this year's National Football League, Derry's performances could not be described as anything less than dismal.

The preliminary round Ulster Championship defeat by Armagh, saw them loose 16-year record of first round home wins at Derry's HQ. Not since 1994 had Derry capitulated at Celtic Park in the opening skirmishes. That legendary mid-1990's encounter saw Down defeat the Oakleafers and go on to win their second Sam Maguire in the space of three years. But, those heady days, when the 'back door' system was but a dream, are long gone and Derry have failed to even reach an Ulster final in the past 11 years.

This years defeat to the Orchard County was made all the worse by the fact that Armagh fell relatively easily to Down in the first round proper, removing the excuse that Derry had gone down to potential Ulster finalists.

Hope of a Derry rejuvenation was created back in 2008 when Damien Cassidy was appointed manager. Replacing Paddy Crozier, Cassidy, part of the Derry All-Ireland winning team of 1993, and with a plethora of honours under his belt as a player and manager, appeared to be the perfect solution to increasingly dwindling Derry performances. However, this has failed to materialise at any serious level and it was the defeat by Armagh that prompted Paddy Bradley's decision to announce his retirement at the beginning of this month.

Whilst the pick of the weekend's qualifiers will be the clash of Armagh and Donegal, no doubt the eyes of GAA pundits across Ireland will have one eye on the events as they unfold at Dr Cullen Park.

Carlow have only one All-Ireland title of any description to their name-winning the All-Ireland B title back in 1994. And they have only once climbed to the summit in Leinster, picking up the Provincial crown, 66 years ago in 1944.

However, despite regular appearances at Croke Park via the qualifier system in the earlier part of the decade as well as claiming the NFL title in 2008, Derry have largely flattered to deceive onn the major stages.

It will be a brave pundit that would back against Derry on Saturday afternoon, but the only benchmark of Oakleaf performances in recent months has been their utter unpredictability and their ability at times to fail to carry put even the most perfunctory of skills and tactics.

Despite the possible absence of Fergal Doherty, Barry McGuigan, Michael Bateson and Patsy Bradley through injury, Derry should have far too much experience and ability for the footballing minnows of Carlow. It is hoped that a Derry victory may kick-start another run in the All-Ireland series.

Should the unthinkable happen, it is quite possible that more than just Paddy Bradley will have fielded their last ball for the Oakleafers.