Just days after stepping down as Derry manager, Mickey Harte made his first public appearance, lining up as a pundit on the BBC’s All-Ireland senior football semi-final clash between Kerry and Armagh.
The three-time All-Ireland winner with Tyrone spoke about his season with his Ulster neighbours, discussing the high of winning the league and how the defeat to Donegal in Ulster had a great effect on his side.
“I had a good time there,” Harte said
“Their great lads, very talented footballers, had a very good start to the season. Winning a National League after a great game was super, but we had poor performances in the championship in the early rounds. We salvaged that in a difficult win against Westmeath and a super win against Mayo, so there’s been a lot of good memories there, and we made some good friends more than you imagine sometimes.
“We were only there for a year anyway. It was never said it would be longer, and other people assume different things. That was it. It was for a year, and the year is completed. I just thought it was best to step away now.
Look, it's hard to put your finger on it. I suppose the Donegal defeat knocked the confidence out of the players to a large degree, and it took a lot to get over that. And the suspensions in other games didn’t help as well, so look, it's all in a year of football. It could have been very different. We were with Kerry up to the 58-59th minute. If we had managed to stick that game out, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
The legendary manager hasn’t called time on his incredible career. He’s still enjoying what he’s doing and doesn’t want to get comfortable at home just yet.
“I’m still not ready for the pipe and the slippers. No, I like what I'm doing managing at this level. Look at it. We will see what will happen.”
There are a number of counties already on the lookout for a new manager, so it will be extremely interesting to see when and where Harte is back on the sideline.
