The apocalyptic weather forced the launch of the Allianz Leagues online on Friday. Even then, Storm Éowyn prevented new Derry manager Paddy Tally from staying in touch as all his connectivity disappeared by the time the national papers arrived.
Farther south, Derry’s hurling counterparts as league winners, Clare, were having better luck even if they found themselves delayed from getting up and running.
The two counties trailed very different experiences of 2024: Brian Lohan’s team adding the All-Ireland to their spring success whereas Derry’s much-lauded league final triumph against Dublin proved to be the towering high point of their season, which ended in four championship defeats.
But Derry captain Conor Glass did manage to frame the reverses against Donegal, Galway, Armagh and Kerry in a positive context.
“I think after the Armagh match it was just the confidence of the players, you know – obviously I want to be looking forward; I don’t want to be looking back but I think it was the confidence side of things and a bit of realisation that the four teams we got beat by were the four [All-Ireland] semi-finalists.”
It still left them looking for a new manager after Mickey Harte’s only season couldn’t withstand the slide from penthouse to pavement. Tally filled what was the last intercounty football vacancy of 2024, having worked with Jack O’Connor in Kerry for the previous three years.
“Once Paddy’s name came on the radar,” said Glass, “it was 100 per cent because he has that expertise and he’s been with Derry, 2013, ‘14 and ‘15, coached St Mary’s for numerous years and then with Kerry the last couple of years so he knows what it takes to win. We’re very lucky to have him and he’s been a breath of fresh air the last month.”
The weekend brings no easy start for the holders, who are away on Saturday in Omagh taking on a Tyrone side now managed by Malachy O’Rourke, who led Glass and others from Glen to last year’s All-Ireland club title.
Asked had he tried to persuade him to take a different intercounty position, Glass acknowledged that he had but the Tyrone-based O’Rourke had already decided.
“I had a private conversation with Malachy alright but he had his mind made up with Tyrone. You can’t hold any grudges with the fella. He’s done all he could for Glen and he lives five minutes from the Ballygawley pitch.”
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