2 days ago
Galway performance can be start of needed Derry change, insists McKaigue
Former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue says the team's 'frightening' intensity against Galway was badly needed and, potentially, a 'turning point' for the beleaguered group.
Last year's National League winners haven't won a game in 2025 with ex-coach Gavin Devlin claiming that Paddy Tally, who took over from Mickey Harte as manager, should have 'run a million miles away from the job'.
Devlin, who was Harte's right-hand man, made the comments in April after Derry's heavy Ulster SFC loss to Donegal. He claimed that the players are still pining for former manager Rory Gallagher and said it looked as if they were 'sulking' at times against Donegal.
McKaigue is a close friend of Devlin's and, speaking at the 2025 Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC launch, said he was greatly encouraged by the draw with Galway.
"At times he wouldn't pull any punches, as that interview showed," said McKaigue of Devlin. "What I would go back and say to that comment is that watching Derry at the weekend, it was a really strong performance from Derry in terms of attitude, their application, their intensity.
"It was frightening the intensity Derry brought to that game. Sitting in Celtic Park in the stand watching the intensity they brought, it was probably a chip off the old block.
"For Derry now it's the consistency in that, can they back that up like the best teams do, week-in and week-out, game-in, game-out?
"Gavin's comments, he obviously made that comment, we all heard that comment. But if you were at the game at the weekend, you would say to yourself, hopefully this is the real turning point for that Derry group because no-one really gave them a chance against Galway, let's be honest.
"I think Galway themselves were taken back by the intensity, the physicality that Derry brought."
