Derry manager Johnny McGarvey delighted as Oak Leafers reach Christy Ring Cup final

Derry Journal

Derry senior hurling manager Johnny McGarvey delighted as Oak Leafers defeat Wicklow in Celtic Park to reach 2025 Christy Ring Cup final

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00:00Johnny, great performance and another Christie Ring Cup final I look forward to.

00:05Aye, 100%, 100% absolutely delighted for the boys.

00:10Just before I say anything more, I just want to pass my thoughts and prayers to the McDonnell family at that accident in Lavie yesterday.

00:17And obviously to the Brown family in Bellahie in their fight for justice for Sean.

00:21And of course today marks the anniversary of James O'Keyan, former manager of this team.

00:28You know, just them things fairly important here today.

00:30You know, it puts Holland into a wee bit of perspective, you know.

00:33But on the Holland side of it, my goodness gracious, I had that.

00:37We received the best for last. It was our best performance from the warm up.

00:41We knew we were at it there and Jesus, we hurt so well.

00:44I mean, you look at that scoreboard and people will say, oh, Derry Cruz.

00:48But that was a Wicklow team coming in here with a bit of pedigree after a great championship run.

00:53Aye, look, they were the form team, they were the unbeaten team.

00:56And we've seen them, you know, we know what they're about.

00:59We were in Ocarim twice last year.

01:00Like, they're a really, really good side.

01:02And we had to play well.

01:04And my God, like, we played well.

01:06You know, I wouldn't look at that scoreboard and say, Wicklow played particularly poorly.

01:09Like, our turnover rate in the first half had to be through the roof.

01:13Like, our tackling, our harrying, you know, our hooks and our blocks.

01:16The wee small margins that make a wild difference in games that you really have to won.

01:21Like, we talked about it all week.

01:23There's no other way today.

01:24We had to win the match.

01:25My God, I just, I thought we were absolutely magnificent.

01:28And Jason's led in the first half too.

01:29I mean, you were playing against that win, but you wouldn't have known.

01:32Aye, and I suppose in the other two or three games, the group, we've been up against the

01:36breeze in the first half and we've been four or five down.

01:38And it's just leaving ourselves too much to do.

01:40Like, we had a real focus.

01:41You know, once we found out we were against the breeze, we talked about it.

01:44Then the boys set the tone.

01:45Like, you know, Sean Taylor was excellent today.

01:48Our sixth defenders thought James Field was excellent.

01:51Mark, Sean, Tad, Turner.

01:52I could go through them all.

01:54And then our forwards, their work rate off the ball, their turnover rate.

01:57The two guys in the middle of the field.

01:59I just thought we were so dominant.

02:01We were so, we were just on it.

02:03I can remember, I'm looking back to the league where there was boys missing.

02:07You were struggling with injuries.

02:09And you always knew in the back of your head, get these boys back.

02:11And it looks now, Johnny, as if you were picking at just the right time.

02:14Well, I hope so.

02:16And, like, you know, it's alright, Sean.

02:18I had, we had, like, as a group, like, we always knew what was in us.

02:22We know the quality that we have.

02:23We know, you know, from number one man to the last person in our backroom team.

02:27Like, we know what we have and we know what we're about.

02:30And, you know, it takes absolutely everybody.

02:33You know, like, we trained in Thursday night with 32 men.

02:35Training on the pitch for the first time this year.

02:37You know, Ryan McGill picked up a shoulder injury last week.

02:40Probably the only one.

02:42Connor Coyle coming back from a hamstring injury.

02:44Paddy Kelly.

02:45But they were out there training.

02:46And the buzz around here we treated here on Thursday and the buzz about here was unreal.

02:50And, look, I'm so happy for them.

02:52Like, there's been plenty of days, there's plenty of effort that you put in and you don't get any rewards for it.

02:57But, I mean, them boys will get the rewards now today.

02:59And, look, when we wake up tomorrow morning there's only one thing in the world that matters to us.

03:03Are you all going to say that?

03:05I mean, because as great a day as this is, you've now got a bigger day ahead and still that elusive Christie Ring cup on the horizon.

03:11Aye, look, whenever we get this over, let's strip it right back down.

03:17It's one game.

03:18I think somebody told me over there it's London.

03:20It's totally irrelevant who it is.

03:21You know, we have to go and perform.

03:23You know, last year, you know, Kildare were a better team than us.

03:27We don't have any issue with that.

03:28We maybe left the one before that behind us a wee bit, you know.

03:31But, look, the focus of Derry Hurland now and the scenes here today, that's absolutely unreal.

03:37It's great for Derry Hurland.

03:39We have to go and perform now.

03:42We have two weeks to get ourselves mentally prepared, physically prepared.

03:45And we'll be ready to go and Crook Park in two weeks' time.

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