PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for March in football, Eoin McEvoy, Derry, with his award at PwC offices in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
With the All-Ireland series imminent, Derry’s Eoin McEvoy is hoping Mickey Harte’s team can deliver on the national stage.
A harrowing Ulster SFC loss against Donegal hurt deeply, but Derry are now busy preparing for the group stages.
In his third year on the senior panel, it has been an action packed stint for McEvoy, who has already collected two provincial titles and an Allianz Football League Division One medal. “The success the team has had is unreal compared to the previous five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years,” McEvoy says.
“Obviously, you have a lot of boys, who were part of that period. They remind you about how privileged we are to be in the position we are. We haven't won that many league titles, we haven't won that many Ulsters.
“So, we are in a privileged position, to keep pushing, to not settle for anything less. We have very good leaders in the group with Conor (Glass), Chrissy (McKaigue), Brendan (Rogers), Shane (McGuigan), CD (Conor Doherty), all them boys.
“They always try to keep pushing to say 'don't settle, keep pushing', to try to get more and more. That is what we are trying to do at this stage.”
A number of players were part of Derry’s adventure from Division Four to One, so advice and leadership is always available. “It is probably more satisfying for them boys,” McEvoy adds.
“Obviously, they've been on that journey, they know what it is like to be at the bottom and to get to the top, they want to stay at the top.
Eoin McEvoy starred in Derry's Allianz Football League Division One Final win over Dublin at Croke Park. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
"Compared to me, I came in when the team was doing well. So, it is probably more satisfying for them boys.
“They do give good lessons, you can't be sitting on a year, you have to keep pushing, to keep trying to get better. That is what we are trying to do.”
With a nice blend of emerging and established players, McEvoy acknowledges that recent underage triumphs have boosted Derry football significantly. “It is relevant at the time, you're getting a good buzz within the county,” he says about gleaning All-Ireland minor silverware.
“When we won the All-Ireland minor it was unreal. Whenever you have success the players want to keep playing. A good chunk of the team that won the All-Ireland minor have come into the set-up. It comes from the cliché - 'winning breeds winning'.
“Obviously, coming into the set-up, in my first year we won the Ulster title. It just gives you a bite for it, a buzz to want to get out on to the pitch to be playing in that team. The success brings more success because you want to keep winning.”
Ready, willing, and eager to develop further, McEvoy is thoroughly enjoying operating in the senior ranks for Derry. “My level of skills have probably got better, just being around the block,” McEvoy says.
“Last year was my first season of properly playing, you get a feel for it. If Rory (Gallagher) or Ciarán (Meenagh) were still there, your individual levels would probably go up the same.
“It is just looking at areas of the game to improve, probably kicking points, kick passing, getting on the end of things was what I needed to work on. Mickey (Harte) and Horse (Gavin Devlin) have been very good since they came in, they've added different dimensions.”