All-Ireland SFC: Can have ‘no complaints’ about Derry exit – Ciaran Meenagh

Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh admits his side can have “no complaints” after their All-Ireland Championship campaign ended with a 1-24 to 1-20 defeat to Meath at Celtic Park.

The Oak Leafers fought back from an early deficit to level at 1-9 at half-time, but Meath were unable to gain control of the contest as they progressed to the third round. The hosts are out of the All-Ireland.

“I’m disappointed, we didn’t deserve to win so we have no complaints,” Meenagh told BBC Sport NI.

“We worked a lot to try and get a lift for a performance. It was very difficult after the Monaghan and Armagh games, and in the end we weren’t good enough, so it’s off season now.”

Despite going level at the interval, Meenagh felt there were already warning signs for Derri when Myth were in possession throughout the opening period.

“If we had any return to the ball from both sets of kick-outs we would have scored fairly easily,” he said.

“We said that at half-time, but that hasn’t changed. They still dominate early possession, and when they’re having more than half of our possessions and winning more than 80% of their own, it puts us in a difficult position to win games.”

As Derry pressed for a response in the closing stages, Meenagh felt the physical pain of playing without sustained possession finally caught up to him.

“When you’re chasing the game for a lot, you’re going to the ball for a lot. It’s energy-sapping,” he said.

“They were the better side and, as the game went on, they started to get their scores easily.”