After a spring in which they seemed to solidify themselves as leading contenders for Sam Maguire, Derry suffered something of a reality check in Saturday's Ulster SFC quarter-final.
Donegal, once again under the stewardship of Jim McGuinness, rocked up to Celtic Park and dismantled Derry in a thrilling encounter, ensuring that Derry will not be a top seed for the All-Ireland round-robin series.
Nobody should judge Derry too quickly, but there were some concerning signs for Mickey Harte in his side's performance, none more so than the well-publicised disaster suffered by goalkeeper Odhran Lynch.
READ HERE: Donegal Goalkeeper Falls Foul Of New GAA Rule During Win Over Derry
Saturday marked Harte's first championship game in charge, after a winter in which his appointment as Derry boss caused much consternation both in his new home and his native county of Tyrone.
After defeat on Saturday, Donegal legend Michael Murphy has explained why he believes those tensions could come to the fore once more should Derry fail to kick on during the All-Ireland series.
READ HERE: Cathal McShane Recalls Memorable Schoolboy Teamtalk From Jim McGuinness
READ HERE: Huge Outcry After RTÉ Documentary About Murder Of Sean Brown
Michael Murphy explains why Derry must win next championship game
20 April 2024; Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Derry manager Mickey Harte shake hands after the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Derry and Donegal at Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Mickey Harte fell to a fourth championship defeat from four against Jim McGuinness in the Ulster quarter-final, and has been left with a lot of thinking to do before his side next play in a few weeks' time.
It's safe to say that a strong cohort of Derry fans were less than enthused when he was announced as the new manager last September, with Joe Brolly among those to strongly hit out against the three-time All-Ireland winning manager for a seeming betrayal of his home county.
Though their first Allianz League win in 16 years has quelled that disquiet somewhat, Michael Murphy believes it may not take long for things to become tense in Derry once more.
Speaking on the Second Captains podcast earlier this week, Murphy was asked whether he believed the pressure would rise quickly on Harte. The 2012 All-Ireland-winning captain said in no uncertain terms that the pressure was already on Harte and Derry to win their next game:
For Mickey Harte, there's going to be a bit of pressure there too.
The murmurings around the appointment - should he have been there? - they're going to intensify now over the six weeks in Derry, you can be quite sure of that.
Last weekend is going to really echo so, so strongly until that first game [of the All-Ireland series]. They're going to be seeded three, they're going to have to travel, in likelihood to Kerry or to Dublin again.
Can they suffer another defeat? Can this team suffer another defeat...I'm not so sure they can within the Super 16 if they're to go on and win the All-Ireland.
There is certainly an air of tension surrounding Derry with Mickey Harte in place as manager, with neither fans of Derry nor Tyrone thoroughly happy with Harte's decision to take charge.
Despite his concerns about the atmosphere surrounding the team, Murphy went on to reaffirm his belief that Derry are a leading contender for the All-Ireland.
Mickey Harte has previous in this, picking certain Tyrone teams up from first round exits and provincials and going on mazy runs. This Derry team still do have ability, they have ability to regroup, to get back on the horse again, and to still challenge.
They will have to face a wait before their next game in the championship, with the "Super 16s" - as coined by Murphy - not getting underway until the third weekend in May.
SEE ALSO: David Clifford Reveals One Aussie Rules Law He Would Bring Into GAA
