Derry job 'too good to turn down' - Tally

Paddy Tally has told BBC Sport NI that the offer to become Derry manager was "too good an opportunity not to take."

A four-month search for Mickey Harte's replacement came to an end on Thursday when the 51-year-old was ratified as the new Oak Leaf county boss.

Having spent the last three seasons working in Kerry under Jack O'Connor and having already committed to another year with the Kingdom, Tally revealed it was the lure of managing "one of the top teams in the country" that led him to accepting the position with Derry.

"It's been a whirlwind week," said Tally, who used to be Down manager.

"Very rarely will an opportunity come up to coach and manage one of the top teams in the country. It's been something that I've always wanted to do and it's fallen at the right time."

It is not the first time the Galbally native has been part of the coaching set-up in Derry. Tally worked under the stewardship of Brian McIver in 2015 after being part of James McCartan's backroom team when Down reached the 2010 All-Ireland.

He was Down manager between 2019 and 2021 before taking on the Kerry role after O'Connor's return to the Kingdom post.

After three seasons as head coach under O'Connor, Tally was due to start a new role as performance director for this coming season.

As a coach, Tally has been to four All-Ireland finals - winning two and losing two - and believes his experiences will help shape Derry's future.

"The journey of mine is 20 years on the road now and I'd like to think the experience of what I've picked up and what I've done, I'll bring it altogether to work with these players here," Tally said.

"The days you win its a fantastic feeling but the days you lose are the days you learn more."

Despite not lifting the Sam Maguire since 1993, Derry have had solid runs over the last three seasons with two semi-finals appearances followed by last year's quarter-final defeat to Kerry.

In Mickey Harte's solo year in charge, the Oak Leaf county did win the Division One title but only won two championship games in 2024.

"It wasn't all bad," Tally responded when asked about Derry's 2024 campaign.

"People forget quickly about the national league title. To win a league title any year is a good thing for a team and winning silverware at Croke Park is massively important for the development of a squad."

"Having that is a good starting point for the players. They did make a good fist of it at the end of the championship to come back to Croke Park."

'Every manager is thinking can they win Sam'

Tally will be joined by a raft of former Derry players in his backroom team with former captain Kevin McGuckin joining Paul McFlynn and Paul McIver.

McIver, who worked with Tally in Derry in 2015, will head up the coaching team with the manager still keen to be active on the training pitch.

"I'm very happy with the three men I've brought with me," Tally said.

"I think they'll bring a range of different talents and knowledge and enthusiasm to the players so I'm happy."

"Coaching is my most enjoyable part and I'll still be doing aspects of it but being manager has extra responsibilities on top of that."

Getting this Derry panel over the line in championship football will be the main target for the new regime at Owenbeg.

"Every manager in Division One is thinking can they get their team to the All-Ireland and can they win the title. There's no doubt about that but that's way down the line."

"Ultimately everybody wants success and there is no real point being in this game if you're not thinking that."