Derry manager happy to take the “learning” from Dr McKenna Cup semi-final defeat

Derry manager Ciarán Meenagh was happy to take the “learning” from last night's Dr McKenna Cup semi-final defeat to Donegal into the tank.

It was an excellent test ahead of next Saturday’s Croke Park date with Meath (3pm) to kick the 2026 NFL campaign into gear.

The Oakleafers led last year’s All-Ireland finalists by three points at half-time before a Dáire Ó Baoill goal flipped the game on its head.

Donegal hit 1-7 without replay and led by five points going into stoppage time before a Ryan Mulholland hit the net with the last kick.

Jim McGuinness started with nine of the team that lost to Donegal with Hugh McFadden, Ryan McHugh and 2025 Young Player of the Year Finnbarr Roarty coming on at half-time.

"I thought for 25 minutes we were really, really good,” Meenagh said of his second game in charge since his return.

“I thought we were defensively solid. That breeze died in the second half, so that was against a strong breeze in the first half.

“I thought our communication, our awareness of space in behind, the manner in which we attacked was very, very good.

“That wee bit of sloppiness probably crept in just before the half time and then we missed three two-point efforts at the very start of the second half.”

Derry were without Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan from their equation with Odhrán Lynch and Eoin McEvoy still on the injured list.

"There were 12 (Donegal) players that figured in the All-Ireland final (for Donegal) so we were playing against a good team and that learning will stand us,” Meenagh added.

“It's just the chemistry of the team playing together, getting back to being competitive, to bringing games down the straight,” he continues, pointing to the importance of playing against a strong Donegal side.

“Then it’s (about) finding new players as well on top of that; getting your seasoned players back, getting football under their belt and those that were rehabilitating from injuries.”

Looking ahead to the league, Meenagh’s eyes are firmly on Robbie Brennan’s Meath who reached last season’s All-Ireland final, while also looking at the bigger picture.

"It's now tunnel vision towards that but look, you've Meath the first week and then another the week after (against Tyrone).

“It is seven games in nine weeks so you can't be fixated on everybody. The one team we have to have a good look at is ourselves and try to improve ourselves.”