Derry minor manager Damian McErlain believes that not enough underage players are giving it their all in development squads.

As a result of this, Derry are behind the top counties at minor level according to McErlain who is currently preparing his side for the opening round of the Ulster championship.

The Oak Leaf youngsters suffered a heavy defeat to Ulster champions Donegal a couple of weeks ago, but finished their provincial league campaign on a high with a comfortable win over Fermanagh.

However, McErlain stressed to the County Derry Post that they must strive to match the best in the country and to do so, the work has to be done in the development squads.

"I still feel that lads are arriving at minor level and they aren't just as ready as other counties are because the buy in isn't 100% there," said McErlain.

"We have players in this panel that opted not to go into development squads and physically they are not developed, in my mind, to county level.

"We have a good strength and conditioning coach here in Eoin Bradley and he can see if he had have had the lads a year or two earlier it would have made a big difference. Boys are playing all sorts of sports and they are coming to us sore because they have so many different matches."

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