McGarvey delighted as "heroic" Derry defend their way to first league points

Derry manager Johnny McGarvey was “over the moon” after Saturday’s win over Mayo leaves securing their Division Two status in their own hands.

After losing to Kerry and Laois, victory on home soil was vital last weekend.

“I am over the moon to get a win on the board,” he said. “It was a tough couple of weeks there.

“We had a lot of soul searching after the Kerry match, it just wasn't good enough,

“We weren't happy with just a lot of things last week. We were happy with our performance but it felt like there was a fair bit of disrespect towards us.”

Despite playing with 14 men for a long period of the game there was a more competitive look to the Oakleafers’ game.

“There's been a wee bit of knocking of the boys and we're not happy with it,” McGarvey added.

“The only way to answer it is to get out on the training pitch and we're working really, really hard and we had to get results on the board. I thought we just hurled really well today (against Mayo), I thought we looked a bit nervy in the first 15 or 20 minutes.

“Meehaul (McGrath) not being there left us a big hole at the back but once we got motoring I thought we were very good, I thought we hurled really, really well.”

McGarvey also spoke about getting more players back on the training field and hopes to have a bigger group to pick from ahead of their trip to Meath in two weeks’ time.

“We've been operating off 16 or 17 players there nearly all season whereas this week we were up to 27, 28,” he said of their preparation for the vital Mayo showdown.

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“That makes a big difference to us as well, just getting bodies on the pitch. To get that win, just before the (league) break is absolutely massive.

“By the time we are out next, Meehaul will be back, (Thomas) Brady will be back and Eamonn Conway will be very nearly back.

“We'd like to think we're going to be in a really good place when we get back to play Meath.”