LAST year’s humbling loss to Tyrone hurt his players and Derry manager Damian Barton wants to see a backlash when the bitter rivals cross swords again in Omagh on Sunday.
Three first half goals settled the issue at Celtic Park in 2016 and Barton’s side have to find a way to bridge the 11-point gap between the sides in this weekend’s Healy Park Ulster quarter-final.
Whether the Oak Leafers establish a defensive screen or throw caution to the wind from the throw-in, many pundits, even some Derry natives, see Tyrone winning comfortably once again.
“I know it hurt them (the players) and I hope to see a response commensurate to that hurt because I have no doubt it definitely scarred a lot of our supporters,” said Barton.
“At the end of the day, if we want to go anywhere and win the support of the Derry faithful, we have to win matches.”
He added: “In the immediate aftermath last year it was surreal experience because you don’t prepare yourself for an 11-point defeat and the manner of it. There is no doubt that your pride is hurt and you expose yourself every time you go over that white line.”
Barton’s Derry has come out on the wrong side of five meetings with their neighbours since he took office for the 2016 season.
Mickey Harte’s Tyrone have reigned supreme in League and Championship as well as in three Dr McKenna Cup meetings, including the last two finals.
“Are there scars there (from last year)?” Barton mused
“I don’t think so, because it is the sixth time we’ve met and we’ve had our backsides kicked more often than not.
“To be quite honest, I don’t think it is that relevant to the boys.”
After that loss to Tyrone, Derry rallied with Qualifier wins against Louth, Meath and Cavan and were a kick of the ball away from reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals – they lost a round four Qualifier against Tipperary by a point.
But the county have been unable to build on it this year and after relegation to Division Three, Barton’s plans for Sunday have been upset by the recent withdrawals of Slaughtneil midfielder Padraic Cassidy and experienced goalkeeper Thomas Mallon, who quit the panel this week.
Derry were already without seasoned campaigners including Sean Leo and Liam McGoldrick, Niall Holly, Emmet Bradley, Christopher Bradley and Eoghan Brown. Their absence left them struggling from the start of their League campaign.
“We were playing catch-up all year,” said Barton.
“We were far too porous at the back, we were missing three very experienced players (Slaughtneil clubmen Brendan Rogers and the McKaigue brothers Karl and Chrissy), who were preparing for an All-Ireland Club final.
“We didn’t have them until the final two games and there is no irony in the fact that we didn’t concede any goals.
“It has been a difficult season… We are back to where we were last year – against Tyrone in the Championship.
“I honestly don’t think that it (relegation) is going to have that big an impact, we were just too generous in the League, our concession of scores and you can put that down to a number of reasons. We certainly can’t do that on Sunday.”
The bookmakers make Derry 4/1 to win on Sunday – long odds in a two-horse race – but despite the negativity that surrounds his team, Barton insists: “We are not in a bad place.
“Nobody gives us a chance, especially after our League form, but my expectations and the player’s expectations are that we go out and represent ourselves and Derry with pride.”
