By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Rory Gallagher admits he was delighted to see his side reach the McKenna Cup semi-finals and while disappointed with Tuesday’s defeat in Ballybofey, he wasn’t too bothered at not being in Saturday’s final.

The Oakeafers shipped two first-half goals that cost them the game against Declan Bonner’s side, but the focus is on a league opener at home to Down on Saturday week.

“If we’d a stronger squad, it would’ve been great,” Gallagher added, referring to having 10 players from his panel unavailable due to MacRory Cup and All-Ireland Club commitments.

He was happy with the progress of his squad and to see 2020 All-Ireland winners Lachlan Murray and Matthew Downey in senior action.

Downey kicked seven points in a Man of the Match performance in their win over Fermanagh, but wasn’t risked.

“Matthew was very sore from playing on a heavy pitch and there was no way we were going to risk him,” Gallagher said.

“He (Murray) is an 18-year-old kid,” he added. “I thought he was brilliant; he kicked three wonderful points and he caused them a lot of trouble.

“I thought Conor McCluskey was outstanding,” Gallagher said of him keeping Paddy McBrearty scoreless until a bang on his knee forced the Magherafelt defender off with injury.

“I thought Oisin McWilliams battled really well for somebody who had missed a bit of training.

“I thought (Gareth) McKinless was brilliant as well and Connlan (Bradley) was getting his first game in a baptism of fire against a team coming with a heavy press.”

The tight fixture schedule influenced Derry’s selection. Conor Glass was togged out, but wasn’t listed among the substitutes.

Gallagher confessed he’d have been happier not to have used Gareth McKinless or Emmett Bradley, with the latter forced off with a knock late on.

“We were using Paudie T’ad’ (Cassidy) as part of his rehab and telling him not to go flat out,” he added.

It was the concession of Caolan McGonagle’s goal that Gallagher felt cost Derry overall. From trailing by two points, they had worked themselves into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead, with the help of two scores from Enda Downey on his first start.

“We displayed a lot of hard work and graft,” added the former Donegal and Fermanagh boss.

“We went two goals down and then seven points down and we had a vastly inexperienced team (compared) to them and they had far more subs than ourselves.

“I thought it was a very good workout and there were some outstanding performances.”

It was a contrast to Derry’s 2020 McKenna Cup campaign that saw them lose to both Monaghan and Donegal.

“If you look at how our squad competed,” Gallagher said.

“The (2020) Monaghan game was a poor day but I can tell you one thing, playing Donegal at Celtic Park was an ultimately depressing Wednesday night in Celtic Park for me and this group.

“We have moved on a lot since then. We had a much stronger team than they had out that day.

“Today we didn’t and we competed. They were the better team, even allowing for a bad goal, they did miss a number of chances.

“Given the way our squad is, it is a hell of a lot stronger. You have eight, nine or 10 really good players to come into the first 18 or 19,” Gallagher said of their current standing.