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24 Feb 2026
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24 Feb 2026
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Derry coach Chrissy McKaigue warns of huge challenges ahead. (Photo: Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile)
Derry were already locking horns on Sunday’s game with Cork in the aftermath of Saturday’s facile win over Offaly.
Selector Chrissy McKaigue, a former All-Star and Ulster winning captain, spoke of the importance of another two league points in the overall promotion picture.
“We talked all week about how much we battled against Tyrone and Kildare,” McKaigue said after their 2-25 to 0-8 victory.
“It was important tonight (Saturday) that we battled just as hard because two points is two points.
“We were disappointed after the Meath game because we know with the head-to-heads in this league and with how unforgiving that Division Two has been to us in the last number of years that every game is so important.
“We are now at six points but there's a massive game coming down the road and it's Cork. We're starting to prepare now for that game because it's going to be another huge challenge.”
While Saturday’s game it was comfortable because Derry made it so. Goals from Niall Loughlin and Matthew Downey pushed them into a 2-17 to 0-3 lead they never looked like losing.
The previous week was totally different and McKaigue reflected on his big takeaway from the victory in Kildare that presented a chance to build momentum.
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“The ability to cope with adversity was the biggest thing,” he said. “It's been thrown at this group now, particularly last year, in the sticky moments in games that we maybe haven't dealt with them overly well.
“Our preparation for the Meath game was brilliant. Unbelievable pre-season. We just were found wanting in the battles against Meath. We wanted to make sure that was the last day that we were found wanting in the battles.
“You would have to say now, in the Tyrone game and the Kildare game we were combative.
“We were good in the moments that required grit and just a wee bit of just doing the things that aren't that glamorous. Today (Saturday) we got a really good start and the game sort of petered out so it was what it was.
“Next week against Cork will come very, very quickly and we need to get boys patched up and ready for that.”
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