Mickey Harte's Derry are still alive in the All-Ireland senior football championship, after their four-point win over Westmeath in Newry on Saturday.
Three consecutive championship defeats had Derry needing a victory on the final day of the round-robin to progress to the preliminary quarter-finals.
Though they made hard work of it, they would take that win in Newry, preserving their place in the race for Sam Maguire.
Even if they still harbour hopes of claiming Sam, it's clear that Derry are miles off where many thought they would be at the conclusion of the Allianz League.
A sensational victory in April's League final against Dublin had Derry talked about as potential All-Ireland winners - but Saturday's nervy triumph against Westmeath was their first win since that day in Croke Park.
Of course, this all happens against the backdrop of one of the most controversial managerial appointments in recent GAA history. The arrival of Mickey Harte caused much consternation both in Derry and in Harte's home county, fierce rivals Tyrone.
The noise around Harte's appointment has not entirely dissipated and his team have faced heavy criticism in recent weeks for their abject championship performances.
After finally getting another win on the board on Saturday, Harte came out firing in his post-match interview with the BBC.
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Mickey Harte says outside noise has not affected Derry
Mickey Harte is not listening to any of the outside noise ❌
Read more on the BBC Sport website and app 📲💻#BBCGAA pic.twitter.com/yHzqr28khf— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) June 15, 2024
Mickey Harte was asked by the BBC if the recent criticism of him and the Derry squad had bothered him - and his response was telling.
Does it look like it did?
I don't get in the thick of all that kind of argument and dialogue that goes on, thankfully. I've been saying this for a long time now, that's the best way to deal with the people who are out to try to annoy people on those platforms.
If you don't read them, they don't hurt you. I don't care what they're saying about me.
Maybe other people read it and some of my family wouldn't like to read it, but I don't read them so they won't hurt me.
Despite Harte's resolution not to engage, it is unlikely that the criticism of Derry will end any time soon unless performances improve.
Having finished third in their group, they will now have to travel again next weekend for their preliminary quarter-final, meaning it is no certainty that they will make the last eight.
Nonetheless, Harte was similarly determined to shut down any claims that the Derry squad was in disharmony. The veteran manager said that he felt the performance against Westmeath should end any suspicion that the squad were not in unity.
Did that look like a team out there in disharmony? Did that look like a team who were pulling against each other or pulling against not wanting a result?
Look at the effort those boys put in for the last 75 minutes. I think that would answer anybody's questions about whether these boys are in harmony or not.
Armagh and Galway face off on Sunday to decide who will top Derry's group, with the league champions now guaranteed to finish third.
It is a quick turnaround to the preliminary quarter-finals next weekend, with a similarly quick turnaround to the quarter-finals the following weekend.
Mickey Harte will have to hope there is a similar turnaround in Derry's form in the coming weeks.
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