Frustrated Derry boss McGarvey looks to Wicklow
McGarvey’s charges pulled it back to a one-point margin before missing two chances to draw level
Johnny McGarvey said his side were disappointed with their performance in Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Meath, leaving qualification for the Christy Ring Cup final going down to the last week of the group stages.
The Derry boss was also critical of the officiating and “baffled” referee James Clarke failed to award what he thought was a certain penalty when Cormac O’Doherty was impeded in the 45th minute.
After four successive wins, Derry shipped two early goals to leave them chasing Saturday’s game. Despite Meath going four clear in stoppage time, McGarvey’s charges pulled it back to a one-point margin before missing two chances to draw level.
“We're disappointed with the performance, especially in the first half when we were playing into the breeze,” McGarvey said, adding how they didn’t hit the right notes in their wins over London and Donegal.
“We didn't play particularly well; we didn't use the ball well at all and then we conceded two soft enough goals.
“The second one (came) off a high ball and we struggled well badly with them on the high ball.”
After being hit with Meath’s 2-1 tally, Derry failed to register back-to-back scores until early in the second half but McGarvey spoke of a relaxed dressing room at half-time, as they trailed 2-9 to 0-9.
The message was about staying calm in the moment, to keep plugging away and chances would present themselves.
Derry hit three scores on the bounce before Damien Healy bagged a third Meath goal. Derry replied instantly with a Shéa Cassidy goal before their 45th minute appeal for a penalty.
“It's stonewall,” McGarvey said of the decision, also frustrated with the consistency of some calls. “As far as I was concerned, the refereeing was awful all day, that's just the reality of it.
“I don't know how you coach lads to tackle and how you coach lads to win the ball in front and take their man on when some of the stuff that's going on there today.
“The penalty is absolutely crucial in a one-point game. I mean it just baffles belief for me that it's not given.”
McGarvey felt his side could well have had a draw, only for Ruairí Ó Mianáin’s late shot dropping short with Derry’s last throw of the dice, adding that he’d have backed the Sleacht Néill man to nail the chance.
“The fact that we didn't play well is probably the most frustrating thing,” he added. “Even in the second half, when we were going well, we put (in) a lot of long aimless balls. We didn't win enough ball in front in our forwards and ultimately that led to us not getting enough scores on the board.”
McGarvey pointed the positive side of the one-point defeat in terms of score difference. The top two teams will advance to the final. While he felt there would be “twists and turns” in the competition, the Derry focus was about a “straightforward” qualification.
After a week’s break, the Oakleafers face Tyrone in Dungannon before hosting Wicklow in what could be a deciding game.
“The whole show runs to Tyrone now,” McGarvey said, hinting it’s a game that could see a return of Gerald Bradley after a calf injury.
“Tyrone's now the big one and it now goes right to the last game with Wicklow, who are very much in the mix.”