Derry manager, Mickey Harte.
By Paul Keane
Even Derry manager Mickey Harte would have to concede, the omens aren't good when it comes to facing Dublin in Allianz League finals.
The last time he was involved in one of these occasions, in 2013, Dublin beat the Tyrone team he was managing and went on to win seven of the next eight All-Irelands.
The following year, 2014, Derry contested their last Division 1 final, were also beaten by Dublin and a few weeks later lost to a Jim McGuinness-managed Donegal in the Ulster SFC.
A decade on, Derry have returned to a top tier league final where Dublin are again the opposition and it just so happens that McGuinness is back in charge of the Donegal side they will face in the Ulster SFC on April 20.
It can't have helped Harte watching Dublin put 5-18 on the board against his native Tyrone just last weekend. Harte's respect for Dublin is obvious and he agreed that they look a scary prospect right now following five impressive wins on the trot.
"They do, they do and I think that was maybe their way of letting people know that the six-in-a-row team, okay, this isn't exactly the six-in-a-row team but watch out what's coming," he said of Dublin's epic performance against Tyrone.
"I think that's what they're saying. They're making a statement of intent here again. Because people were tending to say, 'Oh, a lot of those older statesmen are gone, Dublin are not what they used to be'. They had to take that for a while and I think they weren't too enamoured about that. I think they're firing back and saying, 'Just take care what you say about us because we'll show you we're not a spent force'."
Brian Fenton of Dublin in action against Brendan Rogers of Derry during the Allianz Football League Division 2 Final match between Dublin and Derry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.
It was put to Harte that an in-form Dublin possess the potential to inflict a damaging blow on Derry at an important stage in the season. Tyrone afterall were beaten by 21 points.
"It certainly would (be damaging) if we went away with that kind of losing margin, it wouldn't be a good place to be, but I don't think that is going to be the case," said a defiant Harte.
Derry supporters will be quick to point out that they're the ones approaching the showpiece having topped the Division 1 table with six wins from seven. They did lose to Dublin in Round 5 but Harte took the strategic decision to rest a number of what would be considered established regulars for that game. Conor Glass, Ethan Doherty, Eoin McEvoy and Padraig McGrogan were among the group that didn't start.
"Well, we didn't put out the best team that we had," acknowledged Harte. "It was kind of I suppose a precaution because, number one, if you put out your best team there's no guarantee we'd win anyway.
"But if you did win then this unbeaten run is on in the league, and the talk is on that because you won five games in a row big things will happen and all of that, and there isn't the substance to be saying that if you've any sense.
"But if you're an outsider looking in and if you want to paint a picture and create a narrative, you can do that.
"So I don't think it was the worst thing in the world that we didn't win that game. I think it helps us to be where we are today."
The expectation this time around is that Harte will go with a full strength lineup.
"We'll put out whoever is available and fit and well, we will put out the best team we have that's available," said Harte.
Tom Lahiff of Dublin in action against Eoin McEvoy of Derry during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Derry and Dublin at Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.
He expects Dublin to do the same despite only going with six of their 2023 All-Ireland final lineup for last weekend's Round 7 clash with Tyrone.
"I wouldn't be surprised if some of the serious operators with two pockets full of medals appear again," said Harte. "That's it, that's the luxury they have."
Derry last won the Division 1 league title in 2008. In their bid to replace Dublin as All-Ireland champions, a league success could be a significant stepping stone along that journey.
"A national title is always great to get," agreed Harte, who guided Tyrone to three All-Irelands and one Division 1 league success. "There's not many of them about. And Derry aren't coming down (with titles). They were very good when they won a lot of league titles at a certain stage. They got four league titles when they got their one All-Ireland and they probably reflect on that and maybe suggest they should have got more All-Irelands at that time.
"Dublin beat us (Tyrone) in a league final in 2013 by a point and it didn't do their cause any harm after that, so even Dublin get value out of winning a league title."
