McKaigue eyes more glory days as Derry turn the corner

Derry defender Chrissy McKaigue says he is not sure if the narrative around his county's demise over the past decade was as accurate as publicly believed.

The 32-year-old Derry captain, who had a spell playing for Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League a decade ago, says that the stars have aligned for his county after some turbulent years.

Following Sunday’s hard-earned Ulster title win against Donegal, the county is on a high and looking forward to going further in championship 2022.

The county fell to Division 4 football, conceded huge scores in games, failed to deliver in the championship and saw their efforts hindered by huge club rivalry and internal disputes.

But speaking at the GAA Football All-Ireland Series National Launch, McKaigue said things were never as bad as they were made out to be.

"I’m not sure it was as bad as the narrative bandied about, certainly in the way we were seen as a divisive county," the Oak Leaf skipper said.

"It was used as an excuse because we hadn’t produced on the inter-county stage.

"But there were other factors too. Slaughtneill had very productive club campaigns and they had a significant number of players on the county panel and that would have disrupted Derry’s plans too.

"I always thought, though, that there was a conveyor belt of talent there and with the appointment of Rory (Gallagher), I think those two curves have met now and it resulted in Sunday’s win.

"But look deeper. On Sunday Derry were in the Ulster minor final for the sixth time in eight years.

"St Mary’s Magherafelt have been going really well in the Hogan Cup and McRory Cup competitions, and I think you are starting to see all that coming through.

"Still, we needed that signature win to validate what was happening on