Mickey Harte's Derry will be "tough nut to crack" says Jim McGuinness says after Ulster Championship draw

New Derry manager Mickey Harte takes in the recent senior semi-final between Glen and Slaughtneil. Photo: George Sweeney

Jim McGuinness says his Donegal team will have to be "in top form" to beat Mickey Harte's Derry after the neighbouring counties were paired together in last week's 2024 Ulster Senior Football Championship draw.

McGuinness and Harte were the two highest profile managerial appointments in the country following the conclusion of this year's inter-county season and 2024 season will renew a rivalry stretching back to McGuinness' first spell in charge of the Tir Chonaill when the Glenties native admits he had plenty of late nights working out how to get he better of Harte's Tyrone team.

"Oh a nice handy start and probably what we predicted more than anything," joked McGuinness after Saturday's draw.

"Nobody would put the fear of god into you more than Mickey to be honest with you," he added, "He definitely kept me up late many a night in years gone by so, listen, I have great respect for him and what he does.

"I am delighted to see him back. Obviously there was a lot of controversy around the decision on one level but from my point of view, on the outside looking in, I can see why (he made it). He sees a team with a huge amount of potential, that could potentially win the All Ireland and he's a man that has been proven to get teams over the line with three All Ireland titles to his names so we'll need to be ready.

"We'll need to be on top form to be able to compete with that Derry team, particularly a Derry team that is coached by Mickey."

Derry will be going for an historic hat-trick of Ulster titles but are in the tougher side of draw with the winners of their tie against Donegal facing either Tyrone, Monaghan or Cavan in the semi-final. Derry's quarter-final will be a repeat of the 2022 final and with Donegal now in Division Two, McGuinness admits the champions will be "a tough nut to crack."

"Listen, it will be great," he added, "We went there in 2014, an amazing stadium to go to, and obviously Mickey will have Derry in fine fettle. We would consider Derry a top tier team and we have a couple of tiers to reach over the next couple of years hopefully."We know what is ahead of us. They have really grasped the mettle in terms of the Ulster Championship and they will be a very tough nut to crack."