Derry hurlers face Donegal in critical Christy Ring Cup clash

McGarvey's men started their championship campaign with an emphatic victory over Roscommon two weeks ago but were shocked in Aughrim last Sunday, a result that means there’s now no room for error if Derry are to finish in the top two and qualify for the final.

Derry remain second in the six team group in which only championship favourites Kerry - who defeated Donegal last weekend - have two wins from their opening two games. Four counties - Derry, Donegal, Meath and Wicklow - all sit on two points, making this weekend a potentially pivotal round of fixtures.

"As bad a result as it was in Wicklow, if you look at the league table it doesn't really change anything," explained Oak boss McGarvey, "Wicklow have lost, Donegal have lost, Meath have lost and we've lost. We’re sitting second which means it’s very much in our hands. If we win our three games we go through.

"But I fully understand how difficult that will be and, to be honest, that's not how we are looking at it. The only interest we have now in the Christy Ring Cup now is Donegal on Saturday. They're our sole focus."

Mickey McCann's Donegal lost out to Wicklow in this season's Division Three final but gained revenge with a comprehensive 1-17 to 1-06 win over the Garden County in the opening round of the championship and they're a team McGarvey knows well.

"We know exactly what they are going to bring; they’ve probably played better hurling over their two Christy Ring games than we have," added the Derry manager, "They’ve some very good players: Gerard Gilmore is a super player, (Liam) McKinney is a good player and so is Richie Ryan. They have plenty of talent but so do we.

"A bad result down in Wicklow is not going to define our season. By the time we get the Celtic Park on Saturday we will be raring to go."

McGarvey admitted they had been frustrated by last week's defeat, especially given the number of chances missed and the fact they were on the wrong side of a pivotal 'throw' ball decision for the second time this season when Ryan McGarvey's pass to Ruairi Biggs was whistled.

The decision denied Derry a draw, just as a similar call had in a vital league match against Meath earlier this year.

"The Wicklow match was a carbon copy of the London (league) match. We had the chances, we were the better team but we didn't take them. We got done over a 'throw' ball down in Meath that would have got us a draw and it was the same last week. It is frustrating," added McGarvey

"We butchered two goal chances then the referee blows a 'throw' ball on the last play where we knocked it over the bar for a draw.

"I get frustrated by the whole throw ball thing. From our point of view, there was only two 'throws' blown up last week: one with six minutes to go against Shea Cassidy and there was a good angle on it from the video. It looked fine and we scored from it but instead it's a free out.

"And the one right at the end where Ryan slips it off to Ruairi who puts it over the bar. Now it's a bad camera angle on that one, you can't see clearly but our man says it wasn't a throw and I have to take him at his word.

"That last one, a draw at that stage is a massive result and don't get me wrong, I thought the referee was very good but if you're going to blow throws then you have to blow them all."