By Michael McMullan

DERRY visit Croke Park on Saturday night and Ciaran McFaul is fully aware of the challenge every week in Division One.

Saturday’s draw with Galway was the Glen man’s 105th senior appearance and has played in all four divisions of the league.

Derry have just one point from three games but have steadily improved since their defeat to Tyrone.

McFaul missed the blockbuster against Kerry, when Derry were reeled in from a five-point lead.

He was back last weekend and agrees with his manager Paddy Tally’s assessment that it’s been the toughest Division One in recent seasons.

“I’d say it’s probably the rules that play a big part in it,” McFaul said. “But, it’s the best eight teams in Ireland in Division One.

“On any given day anybody can beat anybody and we know that so we have to be at the top of our game.”

Saturday in Croke Park is a showdown of teams who dug results from the jaws of defeat.

Derry were nine points down at half-time before a Lachlan Murray-led comeback helped them earn a point. Only for a late John Daly block, the Oakleafers could have a win to their name.

It was similar for Dublin who were in the depths of despair against Kerry in Tralee before wrestling their way back to win.

Much of the discussion in recent weeks has been about the new rule enhancements. Central to that was Derry’s defeat to Kerry. The 1-24 to 5-15 scoreline told the general story.

For Derry, it was a gut-wrenching defeat with goals from Paul Geaney and Donal O’Sullivan in the dying seconds.

McFaul, a spectator that day, said the Derry camp didn’t dwell too much on the result. With games hurtling down the tracks, there is no time for deep dives.

“Paddy (Tally) got us grounded through the week,” McFaul said of their turnaround.

“At the end of the day, I know it was good for neutral but we got no points out of it and we’re sitting second bottom, if not bottom in the league.

“We know what Division One is like and we need every point we can get at this stage.”

McFaul spoke highly of Galway, placing them among the top teams. Their unbeaten start backs that up and they’ll welcome Donegal for a top of the table clash this weekend.

“We got a point and Galway’s flying at the minute,” McFaul said, highlighting their ability to engineer two-point scores.

“I thought in the second half we showed a bit of character which was needed and we’re going to Dublin looking for points.”

With the retirement of Chrissy McKaigue and Benny Heron and with Emmett Bradley not committing this season, McFaul is in the experienced group of players.

Coming from the same minor year as Brendan Rogers and Néill McNicholl, he represents the elder group in the squad.

Former minor captains Conor Glass and Paudi McGrogan are leaders. Conor Doherty and Shane McGuigan have led by example too.

Martin Bradley and Cahir McMonagle showed glimpses that they’ve something to offer, but Murray was the key man last weekend.

The Desertmartin man is one of nine members of Mart in Boyle’s 2020 All-Ireland Minor winning team now in the senior ranks.

“Lachlan’s a talented man,” McFaul said.

“We see it on Tuesday and Thursday nights so hopefully he can push on now.”