Derry are in an All-Ireland semifinal for the first time in 18 years after pulverising a meek Clare side in Saturday's All-Ireland quarterfinal with a five-goal demolition job.
Derry won 5-13 to 2-08 but the match was over as a contest before halftime.
It was a performance of attacking assuredness that bordered on cockiness at times. Watching this Derry side tear Clare apart, it was hard to believe that this same team that was involved the 2022 Ulster final, one of the more turgidly defensive games in recent memory.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Derry's man of the match Shane McGuigan politely rejected the popular media narrative that Derry are fourteen-men-behind-the-ball puke football merchants.
"Look I feel the stuff that we've been getting in the media has been quite unfair to be honest. We pride ourselves on our defense but it's a 15 man game. Rory always says in any other sport, you defend as a team and attack as a team. And we haven't changed from that as well. A lot of people were saying 'Croke Park, it wouldn't suit our style' but we proved them wrong today."
🗣️"Stuff that we've been getting in the media has been quite unfair..."
🗣️"A lot of people were saying Croke Park wouldn't suit our style, we proved a lot of people wrong today!"
Shane McGuigan gives his thoughts after @Doiregaa's win over Clare! pic.twitter.com/C5ItVESfPD— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) June 25, 2022
They did so in a big way and it makes Derry's semifinal against Armagh or Galway a truly tantalising affair. Derry today showed they can win a different way, and score with the best of them. Today, Derry emerged as legitimate All-Ireland contenders.
McGuigan was the Oak County's talisman, finishing with 1-8 to his name, including 1-7 from play.
Speaking after the game, Derry manager Rory Gallagher described his approach to the game as "open it up and see what they're made of".
Gallagher was also not surprised by Derry's attacking display.
"There's a lot made of 'defensive' or one thing or another. It's attack with the ball and defend without it. Look, we showed an awful lot of quality. I thought we left a lot of handy scores behind us, easy points, early on you know, even a few of the goal chances. But there was lots of devastating brilliance and we were happy with that.
Rory Gallagher has led Derry into the All-Ireland semi-finals! pic.twitter.com/O7Pu1fnuW4
— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) June 25, 2022
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