While it was known that Derry would be on the hunt for a new manager this off-season, few would have expected Mickey Harte to be recruited for the role.
After all, the 71-year old developed quite the rivalry with the county during his time in charge of Tyrone. As well as that, there had been no indication that he would leave his position with Louth after the success he experienced with the Leinster county.
The decision was met with quite the reaction in all three counties. Some in Louth felt they had been let down by Harte, while not everyone in Derry was convinced by the appointment of their old rival. As for those in Tyrone, it no doubt was strange to see their legendary manager move to the Oak Leaf County.
However, that largely online reaction is not something Mickey Harte has felt himself.
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Mickey Harte dismisses online reaction to his Derry move
Speaking to the BBC at the McKenna Cup draw, Mickey Harte said that he did not have to give much thought to the offer from Derry once it arrived. As well as that, he said that the online reaction to the move is far different to what he has received in person.
We had three years completed in Louth, which was what we agreed to from day one.
When they came in and the position in Derry are in at the minute, with the team and level of achievement they've had in the last few years and the standard they are at right now, it wasn't a very hard to decision to decide that it would be a good idea to be working with them...
It didn't shock or surprise me at all, because I don't indulge in that kind of stuff. Whatever goes on on these other platforms that I'm not on, people need to realise it doesn't bother me.
I don't hear it, I don't see it, I don't read it. Whatever is going on out there, you must know more than I do because there was not a thing that bothered me.
Just because there's a lot of loud noise coming from places, that doesn't mean there's a lot of people talking like that. A few people can make a lot of noise and give the impression that everyone is talking like that.
I met loads of people and not one of them said a cross word to me in Tyrone or indeed Derry either. There were very welcoming people in Derry. I have never come across somebody in Tyrone who has stood up and told me to my face that I'm this, that, or the other.
I take it then that there's a lot of people who understand why the situation is the way it is.
All of this is likely to be quickly forgotten once Mickey Harte takes to the sideline with Derry, although there is no doubt that there will be an added layer to their game against Tyrone this year.
It should make for a very interesting season.
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