Gareth McKinless was one of four Derry players who made the PwC 2023 All-Star football team last night as the prestigious ceremony took place at the RDS for the first time.
The Ballinderry man took one of the half-back slots and was joined by his teammates Conor McCluskey of Magherafelt and Slaughtneil duo Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan.
2023 was another good year for Derry who won the Ulster senior football title on penalties against Armagh in Clones before making an All-Ireland semi-final where they were ultimately beaten narrowly by losing finalists Kerry.
Early in September, Ciaran Meenagh who had taken over as interim manager of the team after Rory Gallagher stepped down following allegations of domestic abuse which had been made against him, ruled himself out of guiding the team into 2024.
Just over a week later there was widespread surprise when former Tyrone All-Ireland winning boss Mickey Harte left his position as manager of Louth to take up the Derry role completely out of the blue.
The move hasn't been well received by everyone in GAA circles with Joe Brolly being particularly critical of the county board's decision.
When the news broke Brolly simply tweeted: "What in the name of f**k".
The following morning he would write: "This is the worst thing to happen to Derry since the plantation."
After receiving his All-Star, Gareth McKinless was asked on stage by Marty Morrissey whether he was looking forward to having Harte as his manager.
"Of course, of course," he replied hesitantly.
Morrissey told him he had to ask the question to which McKinless replied: "I know you did. I was hoping you'd be asking Conor [McCluskey]."
Derry's latest All-Star Gareth McKinless is raring for that first session under Mickey Harte 😂 pic.twitter.com/HR7GIrlEcC
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 17, 2023
It is clear now that McKinless and his Derry teammates were surprised by Harte's appointment.
Gareth McKinless speaks about Mickey Harte's appointment
When asked specifically later in the night by BBC Sport Northern Ireland's Thomas Niblock as to whether or not the squad were surprised, he couldn't exactly keep his feelings hidden.
"Ah look I don't know if I was surprised...ah well...I don't know if I was surprised or not but obviously you sit back and what happened last year was probably a one off in terms of gaelic games and the position we were put in," he said.
"We're just all about rocking 2024 so hopefully we can achieve what we set out to do."
"I don't know if I was surprised or not?!" 🗣
Derry All-Star Gareth McKinless gives his reaction to Mickey Harte's arrival as the new inter-county manager to @thomasniblock 🏐#bbcgaa #gaa pic.twitter.com/CRSWl20tXf— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) November 18, 2023
Derry will travel to Kerry for their opening 2024 Allianz League fixture on January 28th and will begin their defence of their Ulster crown against Jim McGuinness' Donegal later in the year.
SEE ALSO: In Pictures: Plenty Of Sharp Looks On Display On The PwC All-Stars Red Carpet
