'Gutted' McGarvey optimistic about Derry's hurling future

Derry senior hurling manager Johnny McGarvey is in no doubt that his team can get their hands on the Christy Ring Cup in the near future.

McGarvey was a dejected character following his side's second consecutive Christy Ring Cup final defeat at the weekend as they lost out to Kildare on a score line of 4-21 to 1-22 in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

Goals were the difference between the two sides as once again the Oakleaf men came up short in their bid to win their first Christy Ring title, having lost last year’s decider to Meath by just two points.

“I’m absolutely gutted, there’s no other way to describe losing a final. The reality is that Kildare were just more clinical than us, when their goal chances came they took them, when we had ours we just couldn’t,” said McGarvey speaking after the final whistle.

“They were just a wee bit more savvy up front, they were able to take their chances and we weren’t, that was the difference. They’re a really good side but we’re just absolutely gutted,” he said.

Derry were dealt an early blow as Muiris Curtin raised an early green flag for Kildare.  Despite their best efforts the Oakleaf men simply could not restore parity to the score line as Kildare kept their noses in front.

McGarvey’s troops were dealt a further gut punch just before the interval as Jack Burke was deemed to have been fouled inside the Derry square and was awarded a penalty which Naas man Jack Sheridan rifled to the back of the net for Kildare’s second goal.

“I thought the penalty was an absolutely shocking call. Two men were fighting for a ball and I thought it was a brilliant tackle, maybe I’ll think differently when I see it back,” he said. “We had a chance to level the game and they got another goal and all of a sudden it went from a one-point game to a six or seven-point game.”

It was not the only call that McGarvey felt went against his men on a forgettable day for everyone from the Oaklead county.

“I’m disappointed with the officiating today, I won’t say too much more I just didn’t think that it was to the standard that was required out there.”

“In front of our dugout for the third goal was another horrendous decision. Meehaul (McGrath) was fouled and we didn’t get the free in, Kildare went straight down to the other end and scored a third goal. Those are massive calls and in games where you’re just hanging in there they make the difference and I thought that they were really harsh.”

Christy McNaughton takes in Derry's latest Christy Ring Cup Final defeat at Croke Park on Sunday. (Photos: Ray McManus/Sportsfile)

McGarvey and his charges can look forward to testing themselves at a higher level in the National Hurling League as they now look to next season having won promotion to Division 2A earlier this year. That’s something that the Derry manager admits played a key role in today’s result.

“I think the higher level makes a difference especially when you play it consistently. They’ve had a lot more exposure than we’ve had to that. That experience and goal threat ] was the difference between winning and losing,” he said. “We need to be playing at that higher level next year, that’s absolutely vital for Derry hurling to try and push on.”

“Overall I think it’s been a reasonable season. We wanted to get promoted and win the league but we also expected to. Next year is very simple, we want to get back here again and get Derry over the line.”