Derry players must stick together to reach next level says Rory Gallagher

Sunday’s 0-17 to 0-15 Ulster Championship defeat to Armagh was an opportunity missed for the Oak Leafers but it did offer a number of positive signs as Derry took the newly promoted Division One side the distance before paying the price for a number of missed chances.

If the result was ultimately disappointing, the performance was the latest encouraging display from a squad that looks rejuvenated since the resumption and Gallagher believes there will be better days ahead provided the players stick together.

“Commitment. Commitment and putting the team first. Commitment and giving everything you have for your county,” answered Gallagher frankly on what Derry need to elevate them towards to top teams.

“That’s what the players have said to us. You can’t develop the chemistry (without consistency of selection). You see the likes of Liverpool playing in the Premier League and they play with the same nine or 10 players practically all the time.

“You have to develop relationships and have that understanding. It is not just playing. You have to have it on the training field as well. We are not interested in players who rehab and get fit a week before games. You have to train consistently.

“The modern inter county footballer, and I’ve seen it myself, they are training 48 or 49 weeks of the year and it is no problem to them. They consistently stay at that level and seldom get injured.

“You are not unlucky if you are injured all the time. Yes, certain players can pick up injuries at certain times. Derry, over the years, have been missing this player or that player but the top teams, you don’t see James McCarthy injured too often and he plays more big games. You don’t see Brian Fenton injured too often, Dean Rock, and they are playing big games. You don’t see Chrissy (McKaigue) injured too often.”

Gallagher has only had his revamped squad back and training together for a matter of weeks and he admitted he was encouraged by the progress he’s seen in that period.

“We have a very clear picture of who we want and where we want to get to. We want to be in Ulster finals and we want to get up the divisions. I don’t think anybody in Derry is happy being in Division Four last year and Division Three this year.

“We want to play games at that intensity level and we have the quality there. There are a few players missing, Karl (McKaigue) is missing, Jack (Doherty) is missing, Shea Downey is another, we need to get all those players on board now with the younger players.

“I think we can push on. We can say to ourselves it is realistic to push up the division. We know where we are at and we know what we have to do.”