Derry man in Towney keeping silent this week ahead of Celtic Park clash

Any talk about the big game between Derry and Donegal in Celtic Park on Saturday next is kept to a minimum at training in Towney where Derry man, Paul Devlin, joined Michael Hegarty as joint manager for the 2024 season.

The Ballinascreen club man was part of the management ticket alongside Mickey Moran in Kilcoo when they lifted the All-Ireland club and he comes to Towney with an impressive CV.

He was in Pairc na nGael, Glencolmcille on Sunday to witness his first south-west derby and it was something he seemed to really enjoy.

As for the big game between his native Derry and Donegal this Saturday in the Ulster Senior Championship quarter-final, he says very little is being said.

"I'm not allowed to talk to anybody around Kilcar at the minute. We're remaining tight lipped," quips Devlin, who is really looking forward to the game.

"I do think that Derry are in a good place, but probably the game couldn't be set up any better for Donegal in that it's expected that Derry will win in Celtic Park."

Devlin is really excited about what Derry are doing at the minute but he is not sure that their win over Dublin in the Allianz League Division 1 final is a true reflection of where the ALl-Ireland champions, Dublin, are at.

"I don't, no matter what anybody thinks, Dublin weren't anywhere near what they should have been in the National League final. They were playing about with things, tactics. I'm not so sure Derry are at the level yet that they think they are.

"I feel Donegal and Jim McGuinness are going to relish coming to Celtic Park. I watched them early on and I think there's things about to be unleashed and I think Derry will be in for a bit of a game.

"I think it's going to be an unbelievable game. I think Celtic Park may give Derry the edge. I do believe that if it had actually been in Ballybofey I would have fancied Donegal."

One area where Derry can have an edge in Saturday's game is at midfield and Devlin agrees that his county are very strong in that area.

"They have the best midfield pairing in Ireland at the minute in (Conor) Glass and (Brendan) Rogers, there's no doubt about that. They've now added options, some really good players into the bargain. Lachlann Murray is from a neighbouring club of my own, Desertmartin.

"There's a conveyor belt of stuff coming through for Derry but we need to win a championship," says Devlin.

The arrival of Mickey Harte to manage Derry has created plenty of interest and Devlin agrees that Derry are an improving side, but he points out one area where Harte has yet to prove himself.

"Mickey has (improved the side) but at the end of the day I still think Dublin; Mickey never beat a Dublin in their pomp and he'll not like me saying that.

"Kerry was the one he was always able to get one over on. I still think Dublin are at a different level, that's my honest opinion. But fingers crossed. If we can get out of Celtic Park, I'll be delighted with a one point win. I think it could be tight.

LOCAL DERBY

Devlin was after watching his new side, Kilcar, overcome Naomh Columba with a late point in a game played at a windy Pairc na nGael. He agreed that it was a very competitive affair.

"Absolutely. I was just saying to the boys there, I don't ever remember being at any derby game that's not like that, that's not tight.

"We wouldn't have been happy at all with our performance for large parts of it, and that's just being very honest.

"We showed a wee bit of character in the second half. It was a very strong breeze and it was two different halves. We did have that wind behind us in the second half and that may have just got us over the line, I think," said Devlin.

A goal in either half were the big Naomh Columba scores and Devlin was particularly disappointed about conceding the second one.

"That's probably the one part of the game that we are extremely disappointed with. We kicked a score and we immediately let them work the ball up the field against a gale force wind and there wasn't a hand laid on them.

"But it's early days and as you say, it's a derby game and I'm seeing what it means to the people of Kilcar and Glen."