Any fears that Derry's 2022 campaign was a flash in the pan have certainly been eased in the early part of the new season. The Oak Leaf County have shown that they mean business, taking the McKenna Cup title and winning their first three games in Division 2 of the National League.
The latest victory in their pursuit of a return to the top tier for the first time since 2015 came against Meath on Saturday evening, as they outclassed their visitors at Owenbeg, winning 2-15 to 1-7.
18 February 2023; Ethan Doherty of Derry scores his side's first goal despite the tackles of Adam O'Neill, 2, and Jack O'Connor of Meath during the Allianz Football League Division Two match between Derry and Meath at Derry GAA Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg, Derry. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Rory Gallagher: 'It's like moving day in golf'
They travel to Kildare next Sunday, and victory in Newbridge would represent a major step forward in their promotion push.
Dublin will then visit Celtic Park for a bumper showdown the following Saturday.
"We'll see how the next couple of weeks go," Derry boss Rory Gallagher told RTÉ, when asked about their promotion push.
"These next run of games, we've three games in 14 days. It's kind of like the moving day in golf. So we'll see where we're at, at the end of that.
"It's always good to win. We had a decent preseason. The McKenna Cup is very valued, and we've had a decent start now. We feel, we won't say we're in top form or anything like it, but we're finding more form."
'It's (this period) kind of like the moving day in the golf, we'll see where we are after that' - Rory Gallagher assesses things after his side's handsome win over Meath in a wet and windy Owenbeg #RTEGAA #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/UHwfYK2yoV
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 18, 2023
The 2022 Ulster champions had too much nous for the Royals on Saturday evening, keeping Colm O'Rourke's charges at bay. They laid the foundations for the facile win by taking a 2-7 to 0-3 lead into half-time.
"I think we won the game in the first-half. The elements got a lot tougher in the second-half," Gallagher reflected.
"It wasn't an overly significant breeze, but we had it in the first-half and I thought we played some good football. We were 10 up. We got the goal at the right time, we probably should have been more up before that.
"I won't say we're far from the finished article, but we're gathering a crew with a good bit of experience. That experience goes out the window now, we have to make sure we have it again this week with our preparation for Kildare and be hungry."
It is still early days in the grand scheme of things. But on current form, Derry look well on their way to sealing a return to Division 1.
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