Chrissy McKaigue: Galway will pose us biggest threat we have faced so far this season

Galway are the biggest threat Ulster champions Derry will have faced this year, according to their experienced defender Chrissy McKaigue.

The Slaughtneil defender was able to sit back and relax while watching the titanic battle between Armagh and Galway, safe in the knowledge of Derry's place in the last four of the All-Ireland series.

It was a game however that the 32-year-old says shows the dangers his team will face on Saturday evening.

"I can’t speak highly enough of Galway and anybody who was at that last game against Armagh knows how brilliant they are and the mental fortitude they showed to come back when Armagh came back at them.

"It was an unbelievable game, despite some of the incidents that went on. But the game of football and the warriors that were on show, they were absolute brilliant representatives for their county".

An 11-point league defeat back in March is another reminder, if needed, of the quality the Tribesmen possess.

"We were very aware of how good Galway were in the league, we were even more aware of how good they were when they beat us up here in the league. We know them well at this stage and they know us quite well too.

"But it is very different now, we are in the last four of the All-Ireland and in the summer months, but the challenge remains the same."

Another big Derry crowd is expected to make the trip down to Croke Park on Saturday, something that McKaigue says he and his team-mates cannot focus on.

"We are very appreciative of our supporters because they have been a massive reason why he have been so successful this year and we continue to need them.

"Please God they continue to come out in big numbers on Saturday.

"But we have to control ourselves, we have to control our preparation and the boys