HAVING their Division 2A final against Sligo fixed for Ederney and only finding out as late as yesterday has angered Derry, but manager Dominic McKinley says he’ll try to block out the noise around it.
While the four football league finals are all in Croke Park across two days and the top two tiers of hurling will get Saturday evening billing in Thurles, the GAA had issues sourcing a venue for the lower-tier hurling finals.
Derry and Sligo will meet at the Fermanagh club’s ground on Saturday afternoon, with the Division 3A final between Tyrone and Armagh fixed for Owenbeg.
Fermanagh’s Division 3B decider against Longford will take place in Carrick-on-Shannon.
“We can’t control that at this moment in time. This is not being disrespectful, but you need a Sat Nav to even think about where it is,” said McKinley.
“We don’t want any distractions this week, that’s what I’ll [have said] to my players [last night], we just get on with it.”
The choice of venue hopefully won’t detract from a big weekend for Ulster hurling, which will see five different counties contest league deciders.
Down are the most high-profile and their clash with Westmeath will act as the curtain-raiser to the Division One final, while Derry are aiming to step up into Division 2A for the first time since 2016.
“It’s picked up and people talking about it again is good,” said the Antrim native.
“You like to see the teams coming on well. At this moment in time, it seems to be they’re coming back, in small steps.
“We have a long way to go, I’m sure Down has a bit to go as well, but there is a step forward from both, there’s no doubt, being in their respective finals. Antrim staying in Division One is a great achievement for them as well.”
Derry will be without hamstring victims Richie Mullan and Eamon McGill for the clash with a Sligo outfit seeking their third straight promotion, having been in Division 3B in 2020.
McKinley admits that he and Cormac Donnelly seriously considered stepping down at the end of last year but their fortunes have been changed following some frank discussions with both players and club managers.
“If you’d asked me [if we’d be in this position] last year, I would have said ‘not in your wildest dreams’ because things weren’t right. Cormac and me did consider is this worthwhile staying in this job. But things did change.
“We went and met [club] managers and asked them for help getting the best players in Derry out. We did get a good response and from then on, everything has went along nicely. Results have helped. We’re hoping we can keep our foot on the pedal and keep moving forward.
“We sat down with the groups of players and said them ‘you count yourselves as hurlers and talk about wanting to play, but somebody’s sitting you down and telling you you’ve only eight or nine league matches and then championship in Derry, I’d say to myself is that really worth it, training all year for this?’
“But then could you be selfish and substitute that with playing for Derry as well. Becoming better, getting more games at a higher level, training along with better players, the top players in the county, never mind the coaching side, you’re going to become better.
“It was put to them that if you want to close the gap at club level in Derry, or become a better player and get a better profile for yourself, why would you not join up?”
