Paddy Tally: 'The bigger picture is the development of the squad'

There is a fine line between a brave effort and a deflating defeat, and on Sunday afternoon in Ballyshannon, Derry found themselves on the wrong side of that line. 

Having led by as many as eight points in the second half, Paddy Tally’s men saw their advantage slip away as Donegal mounted a stirring late revival to claim a dramatic 1-22 to 1-19 victory. 

It was a result that, while a blow to Derry’s survival hopes in Division 1, gave a sense of optimism for the road ahead – in the championship and beyond. 

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Tally, ever the realist, was quick to assess the gap between his side and Donegal after the final whistle.  

"We're definitely behind Donegal, they have had a vast amount of work done and they've been at it for a long time compared to us," Tally admitted.  

"We're playing catch up, that's not an excuse though, there was a game to be won today." 

Derry looked to be in a strong position as the game neared its final stages. The visitors had worked tirelessly to push ahead, with Conor Glass's goal in the 43rd minute putting them firmly in the driving seat at 1-19 to 0-15.  

For a brief period, it seemed that Derry might just be on their way to an elusive win, one that could have breathed new life into their campaign. But as Tally later reflected, "Donegal just got a march on us at the end of the game." 

Indeed, Donegal’s response was nothing short of impressive. With just 10 minutes remaining, Shane O'Donnell’s goal – a clinical finish after a slick pass from Michael Murphy – ignited the hosts’ charge, cutting the deficit to three points.  

From there, Donegal’s confidence grew. Ciaran Thompson, Daire Ó Baoill, and Conor O'Donnell all contributed vital scores, as Derry, who had looked so assured earlier, found themselves overwhelmed by the momentum of their opponents. 

Tally’s disappointment was palpable, though he acknowledged the improvements his side had made since the previous week's performance.  

"I'm disappointed we didn't get the result, but I'm very pleased with the way the boys played," he said. "Last week, we didn't play well, and we were all over the place. Today we looked much more like a team we could have got something out of it, but we didn't." 

The match had been a tale of fluctuating fortunes. Derry had led 0-11 to 0-7 at the break, with Shane McGuigan and Lachlan Murray in fine form. Their lead had stretched to eight points after Glass's goal, and for all the world, it seemed as though the Oakleafers might finally secure that vital win.  

But as the game wore on, Donegal's experience and depth began to tell. When Derry needed to steady the ship, Donegal were there to pounce, and their late rally culminated in Ó Baoill’s stunning two-pointer to keep their hopes alive. 

Tally was unflinching in his analysis of the situation. "I can't complain with the players' effort," he said. "We need other results to go our way, and we just have to keep going, staying in Division 1 would be fantastic, but the bigger picture is the development of the squad and we have to get the squad ready for championship." 

Therein lies the silver lining for Derry. While the loss will sting, the manner in which they played, particularly in the first 50 minutes, offers hope that this team is evolving.  

The development of the squad – as Tally so rightly pointed out – remains the overarching goal. There is little doubt that Derry will take heart from their improvements, particularly from the likes of Conor Glass, who was again a driving force in midfield, and Shane McGuigan, whose six-point haul provided the backbone to Derry's challenge. 

But when it comes down to it, Donegal were simply the more clinical side on the day, and their late surge demonstrated the gulf in experience between the two teams. With 1-7 in the final 10 minutes, Donegal showed all the attributes of a side that knows how to win when the pressure is on. 

For Derry, this loss means that the road to survival in Division 1 has grown even steeper. They now find themselves relying on other results to stay up. But with the championship looming on the horizon, Tally’s focus will be firmly on preparing his players for what is to come.  

"The bigger picture is the development of the squad," he said, and that development is likely to be the key to Derry's future.