Derry City has strongest goalkeeping unit in the league: Declan McIntyre

A bold statement but given it’s comes from the mouth of a man who can claim responsibility for inadvertently handing Celtic and Ireland legend, Packie Bonner his chance to get into the Irish youth international ranks, it’s one which must be taken seriously.

Former Finn Harps, Sligo Rovers and Derry City ‘keeper, McIntyre was even mentioned in fellow Donegal man Bonner’s autobiography, ‘The Last Line’ after he had broken his ribs while representing Ulster in an inter-provincial tournament, a team managed by retired BBC Radio Foyle commentator, Richie Kelly, at the time.

That presented an opportunity for his Ulster teammate, reserve keeper, Bonner to replace McIntyre in nets for the next fixture against Leinster where he impressed in front of the Irish Youth selectors and the rest, as they say, is history.

Donegal Town native, McIntyre didn’t hit the same heights as Bonner but he did have a distinguished career between the sticks, winning the FAI Cup with Galway United in 1991 and later establishing himself as one of the longest serving international coaches in Ireland.

He was also part of Charlie McKeever’s management set-up when Finn Harps reached the FAI Cup Final in 1999 and returned to Ballybofey under the stewardship of Peter Hutton in August 2012.

He coached the Ireland U20 sides when they qualified for the FIFA World Cup in Nigeria in 1999 and the UAE in 2003 as well as several European Championship Finals under Brian Kerr.

Most recently he was involved as goalkeeping coach for Paul Doolin’s U19 Ireland side and spent 18 months as assistant boss at Sligo Rovers before a short stint as caretaker boss came to an end in June 2017.

McIntyre has had significant influence on the careers of some of Donegal’s finest goalkeeping talents including current Forest Green stopper, Conrad Logan, former Man United youth, Joe Coll and ex-Derry City, Harps and St Pat’s goalkeeper, James Gallagher.

So it came as no surprise when former keeper, Declan Devine decided to keep the vastly experienced coach on the club’s payroll when he returned to the club for his second spell ahead of the 2019 season.

He’s been working at close quarters with both Derry’s experienced custodian, Peter Cherrie, and the club’s up-and-coming talent Nathan Gartside on a daily basis ever since and he’s excited about the tussle for the club’s No. 1 jersey over the course of the season.

McIntyre has been hugely impressed with the attitude of both Cherrie and former Lisneal College student, Gartside, in pre-season and reckons Devine is ‘blessed’ to have two of the top goalkeepers in the country battling it out for a starting berth.

“From a goalkeeping point of view pre-season has been excellent,” he said. “Peter and Nathan are a joy to work with and they’re very, very professional.

“They challenge each other. Peter is obviously the one with all the experience but Nathan is thriving on it. Even in the short period of a year, Nathan has come on so much it’s untrue.

“He’s forced his way into the Northern Ireland U21 set-up and rightly so. I’ve spoken to Ian Baraclough, who I used to work with in Sligo, and he rates him very highly. He can’t believe how far he’s come on since the last time he had seen him.

“Peter sets high standards and won’t drop his standards which is only good for Nathan in the long term and for this club.”

Former Watford keeper, Gartside was presented with a handful of chances last season and performed well when handed the coveted jersey. While both keepers are courteous and polite in nature, McIntyre expects them to be extremely competitive when it gets down to the nitty gritty.

Cherrie has bags of experience and has won a League of Ireland title during his time with Dundalk and the Scotsman will be expected to get the nod for the opening match against the Lilywhites. But McIntrye doesn’t expect him to have it all his own way this year.

“It has to be an ongoing process. You’re not afraid if something was to happen your first choice keeper. It wouldn’t cost me a thought for either of them to start a match.

“I think we’ve possibly the best two goalkeepers in the league - I really do believe that!

“They’re very calm which is a great asset for a goalkeeper. They’re not erratic or jumping around the place and losing the head when maybe other people do. They’ve both got a good temperament for a goalkeeper.

“I tell you what, I’m blessed and the club is blessed to have the two of them here. It’s great.

“There’s nothing between them. What Peter has in experience, Nathan probably has in terms of enthusiasm and work ethic. There literally is nothing between them and we’re in a very good place with them, we really are.

“They’re ready and in great shape and both are chomping at the bit. Both of them want to play and it’s very competitive between both.

“I don’t think anything has been set in stone just yet but whoever starts the first match, I’d be very, very confident. It wouldn’t cost me a thought.

“They’re friends and get on well together. Of course they understand there’s only one place going but they’re as professional as they possibly can be and they push each other as hard as they can.

“Whatever happens there won’t be any hard feelings. Somebody is going to be disappointed, obviously, but they’re so professional and it’s great to have the two of them here.”

Derry boss, Declan Devine asked staff members and players for their personal ambitions and motivations for the season when down at their pre-season camp in Abbotstown last weekend.

“My answer was I wanted to be with the best club and train with the best players and be in the best environment and Derry City without doubt is definitely the top two in terms of facilities,” said McIntyre.

“Players come in every day to a professional environment, everybody doing their business, I love it here I have to say, I couldn’t be happier.”

Having had his spell on the sidelines as temporary manager and assistant at Sligo, does he miss being in the thick of the action?

“Not one bit, “ he laughed. “I found that quite stressful actually and when I see Decky (Devine), Kevin (Deery), Paddy (McCourt) and Marty (McCann) I understand the stress they’re going through.

“It’s very handy just working with the two boys. It’s two one-on-ones really you’re dealing with and it’s easier. I don’t miss the stress of management one bit.

“I love it in here. I think it’s a really professional club, a proper club, and it’s being run the right way. It’s just the place I like to be.”