McGarvey proud Derry despite devastating defeat

By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey was proud of this side despite Saturday’s gut-wrenching defeat in their Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park.

Playing in their fourth final in five years, Derry were left chasing a slick and efficient London team who controlled the breaking ball on their way to an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

The Oakleafers were only ahead for two brief spells, the second of which came in the 52^nd minute before London hit the next six scores to take control again.

Derry did shave a five-point deficit down to three points before Cormac O’Doherty, unerring from his shots over the game, saw a late close-range free stopped by a packed London goal line to prevent the goal that would’ve sent the game to extra-time.

Referee Pádraig Dunne was the talking point after the game as the Oakleafers justifiably felt they were on the wrong end of some key decisions including Paul Kennedy escaping with a yellow card for leading with his head into Derry goalscorer Thomas Brady when the sides were locked at 1-7 each after 20 minutes.

“There’s plenty of talk about the referee but we didn’t play well enough,” admitted a visibly disappointed Johnny McGarvey outside the Derry dressing room.

“We were second to the breaks, which was very disappointing. The ball didn’t stick enough inside, I don’t know why. It’s not something that we’ve had a massive problem with. We didn’t play well enough, but it’s just totally devastating. It’s a rough place to be in there.”

The sides were level four times in the first half before London pulled into a 1-15 to 1-12 interval lead but there was still plenty to play for and, indeed, Derry were behind when the sides met in Ruislip in the group stages.

“(We were) disappointed with the way we had played,” McGarvey said about their first half performance. “We always nearly looked like we were chasing. Every time we thought we were getting a wee bit of momentum, there was a free that seemed to break that.

“At half-time, we were three down, we hadn’t played particularly well and it wasn’t the end of the world. We came out at the start of the second half and probably should have got two scores.

“We overdone things with the ball on both occasions. They went down and maybe got the first two scores of the half, and then it was back to five. It was very frustrating. We couldn’t find a spell of momentum in the match.

“I honestly don’t think there’s any more we could have done in the build up to this,” McGarvey added.  “Meehaul (McGrath) pulled a hamstring last Saturday, it was the only issue that we had.

“Preparation was really good. We were well drilled. It came down to the fact that we just couldn’t get that momentum going. We always looked like we were chasing. Maybe snapped at a few things and panicked in a few things.”

When asked if it would difficult to lift the players, the Derry boss stood by them but didn’t commit if he’d return to the helm after three years in charge.

“As I told them there, there will be plenty of people with plenty to say and there’ll be plenty of people to stab them in the back. Especially within Derry Hurling, they’re under no illusions about that,” McGarvey said. in reference to lifting the players from defeat

“I don’t think you need a cup to say that you’re a good team. It would be lovely and we’d love to win this cup.

“The players in there, they’ll be back to do it again. Those boys are an absolute credit to our county and the effort….they just put everything that they put into this. Some days you don’t get your rewards and that’s hard to take.

“The reality of sport is somebody has to get beat and you have to dust yourself down and you go again.”

On his own future, he indicated it would be down to discussions among the players and what would be needed to take Derry over the line to a first Christy Ring title.

“It’s a difficult one,” he said, “but it would take a fair bit to put me off. The discussions probably have to take place with the players. At the end of the day, this is all about them and what’s best to get them over the line. That chat has to take place with them.

“I have a wife and two young weans at home as well. All those things have to come into consideration. Today’s just a very, very difficult day.”