Derry return was "too good to turn down" admits Ciaran Meenagh
Ciaran Meenagh says the chance to return as Derry senior football manager was "too good to resist" after beginning his second stint as Oak Leaf boss with a resounding 15-point McKenna Cup victory over Antrim at Owenbeg on Wednesday.
Meenagh was previously part of the Derry management set-up under both Damian McErlain and Rory Gallagher before taking over when Gallagher stepped back in May 2023. The Loughmacrory native helped guide the squad to a second Ulster title and reached the All Ireland semi-final that same season.
His return was ratified in July and after watching second half goals from Paul Cassidy and debutante Ruairi O'Mainain secure victory over the Saffrons, he revealed he always felt there was unfinished business with Derry.
"Listen, I was here for five years with those players," explained the new Derry manager, "I started off with Damian McErlain for a year and then I had four glorious years, going from Division Four right up through the divisions to Division One and the two Ulster titles, so there was a pining yeah.
"I've said before, I loved those players and that love never died. The opportunity came up. I certainly didn't think it was going to be the case. I served two good years in Down and really, really enjoyed it. I served with people that I've massive respect for and feel I've learned from as well.
"But I thought when the opportunity came up, it was ultimately the players who wanted me to build a management team and when you have that, you start off in a position of strength. Add that into the concoction with all my memories and everything that I have here, it was too good to resist."
Despite winning the National League title after his departure, Derry has endured a wretched recent run over the last 18 months. Indeed Wednesday's victory was the first since the penalty shoot-out victory over Mayo in June 2024 and Meenagh stressed it will take time to restore the county's fortunes.
"There's a process of building confidence again, that's the reality of it when you lose so many games over a period of time," he admitted.
"The talent is here. There's a lot of very good players who are unbelievably committed but getting these players back to winning ways - with that confidence, that's going to take a wee bit of time.
"That's just not going to happen overnight, but it can happen as part of a process. I'm pretty confident that I have the buy-in of the players and pretty confident the players - like myself and the management team - see the bigger picture, so we're confident that in time we can go back to winning ways."