These are challenging times for Mickey Harte's Derry. The Oak Leaf county seemed set for a mighty season after winning Division 1, but have been derailed on consecutive outings by Donegal and Galway.
Saturday's defeat leaves Derry up against it in terms of achieving a bye to the All-Ireland quarterfinals. With some key injuries, it's no understatement to say the next few weeks are pivotal for Derry's hopes of winning Sam this year.
The matched turned on the sending off of defender Gareth McKinless, who was dismissed in the 21st minute of the game for a stamp on full-forward Damien Comer, who eventually had to go off with an ankle injury.
Padraic Joyce did not hold back in his criticism of the incident, saying it was "a horrendous thing to do, but there’s nothing we can do about it now.”
For his part, Harte told GAAGO he thought it shouldn't be a free in the first place.
It's right to wonder how Derry GAA people are viewing the turn this season has taken.
Joe Brolly has been perhaps been the most outspoken former Derry player in regards to the appointment of Harte. Writing in his weekly Sunday Independent column, the former RTÉ pundit apologised on behalf of the county of Derry for the foul by McKinless. He did not hold back in his criticism of the incident.
‘It was a shocking and outrageous act which made me ashamed to be a Derry man.
‘I can only apologise on behalf of the Derry GAA community.’
Derry's season in the balance
It wouldn’t be a secret that Brolly isn’t the current manager Mickey Harte’s biggest fan, and a result like that, especially after losing to Donegal, won’t help to mend bridges.
However, Harte will be more concerned about the manner in which the league champions performed in Galway. With mounting injuries, McKinless's suspension, and a game against Armagh, the garden isn’t looking too rosy for Harte
With four weeks to prepare for the game, you would have thought they would have been a team possessed to right the wrongs from the last day, but has the Derry train run out of steam? Only time will tell.
