Derry must show 'passion and desire' - McGuckin

Mickey Harte was appointed Derry senior football manager last September

Former Derry captain Kevin McGuckin has called for the current side to "to knuckle down and get it right amongst themselves" ahead of Saturday’s win or bust All-Ireland Group 1 clash with Westmeath.

Mickey Harte’s side need to beat Westmeath at Pairc Esler in order to advance to an away preliminary quarter-final after defeats to Galway and Armagh ensured third is the highest they can finish.

“It's a real knockout game, I suppose there have been complaints that this championship format hasn’t been too exciting but that may change at the weekend and for Derry it’s a game they just have to win,” McGuckin told BBC Sport NI.

Westmeath under Dessie Dolan have pushed both Armagh and Galway all the way in their opening fixtures and should have knocked Tyrone out in a similar fixture last year so the Ballinderry clubman is well aware of the threat.

“This season it just hasn’t gone to plan for Derry. Westmeath is going to be a real tough one and the two games that they have had so far in the group they’ve been super and taken it right to the wire. Derry are really going to have to stand up here -it’s win or bust.

“There has been lots of talk of reported issues in the Derry camp, lots of talk about Mickey Harte and the management team but, I think this one comes down to the players. They’re just going to have to knuckle down and get it right amongst themselves and show a real passion and desire to get through this one and make sure the season continues."

Ross McQuillan scores Armagh's first goal in the 3-17 to 0-15 win over Derry at Celtic Park two weeks ago

Derry have lost three straight games since they defeated Dublin after extra-time to win the Allianz Football League Division One title 11 weeks ago.

The appointment of Harte to the Oak Leaf job sent shockwaves through the GAA world considering he had spent 17 years in charge of his native Tyrone, winning three All-Ireland titles with Derry’s arch-enemy.

But All-Ireland club winning defender McGuckin doesn’t believe that rivalry impacts on this team and management.

“It was a new one and it was a shock to everybody but I don’t think that’s what it comes down to. I suppose now the Tyrone people are loving the carry on with it and the ‘Agent Mickey’ jokes are going around.

“I don’t think it’s to do with Mickey Harte, it’s just where our season has gone at this stage.

"It’s all going to come down to the players at the weekend and the players are just going to have to dig deep, think about the crest on the jersey and try to get at least one more game for the supporters this year."