RECENT meetings between Derry and Wicklow have been drastically one-sided, but that won’t change the Oak Leaf County’s approach to Sunday’s Christy Ring opener, insists manager Dominic 'Woody' McKinley.
Derry hammered Wicklow 2-24 to 0-12 in round two of the National League while they also defeated the same opposition 2-23 to 0-18 on their way to reaching the final of the Christy Ring last season.
“Wicklow at home, the utmost respect to them because when I started, I said we’ve got to get on top of these teams, consistently be turning them over and beating them before we can talk about moving up (the divisions),” said McKinley.
“I’d say we’re getting there but we’re not there yet. We’ve got to approach every game with the same attitude and that won’t change this weekend. Wicklow were a stumbling block for Derry for years, four or five years we hadn’t beat them.
“We want to make sure we’re on the boil again this weekend and put ourselves in a good position because the Christy Ring, with the teams that’s in it, it’s very, very important we get off to a good start.”
McKinley will be focusing on his sides attitude and making sure the heads are right going into Sunday’s clash.
“It’s always hard to beat a team three or four times in a row with motivation and attitude in the head. That’s something that we’ll try and drum in or try and talk to them about, making sure our heads are right and going out and performing the way we can.
“That’s what our target was for the year, to consistently do the things that makes you good and that’s one of them. Turning up every day with your attitude and if your attitudes good, everything else will follow on, your work ethic, your stick work, that your honest and trustworthy to your team-mates. All that type of stuff.
“But the last time we played Wicklow, they’d one or two players missing so I wouldn’t read a great deal into that. Who knows what’ll happen come Sunday?”
Derry head into the game carrying huge momentum after enjoying a successful league campaign, earning promotion to Division 2A for next season.
Consistency has been key throughout the whole journey and McKinley is delighted the players got their reward.
“It comes back to the starting point; everything starts with players turning up and being honest and committed to each other. And then consistently turning up to train and consistently doing all the hard work and everybody buying into the same project.
“There was no secret to it. The use of possession from goalie out is crucial to everything we do, and it takes a wee while to get that into their heads, but I think now they’re all enjoying it.
“They’re consistently training, consistently doing their conditioning and results have led on from that and that breeds confidence. I’m delighted for the players because once you commit to something, I think you can see what can happen.”
