Rory Gallagher says his focus is solely on enjoying his time with Derry as he looks forward to the Ulster Final clash against a Donegal team he once managed.
Gallagher’s Derry side defeated Monaghan by 3-12 to 0-17 in yesterday’s Ulster semi-final as they aim for their first Anglo-Celt Cup since 1998.
But Gallagher will be facing plenty of familiar faces as he tries to end Derry’s 24 year wait to win a provincial championship.
The Fermanagh man took over from Jim McGuinness as the Donegal manager in 2014 until 2017, but failed to continue the success of the McGuinness reign, as Donegal lost both of their Ulster finals under Gallagher.
Gallagher becomes the first manager to take three teams to an Ulster final, however, he has yet to win any of the encounters after his Fermanagh side were well beaten by Donegal in the 2018 final.
The last time Derry reached an Ulster final, Gallagher was in the dugout as backroom staff for Donegal in a 1-11 to 0-8 win over the Oak Leaf County in 2011.
Gallagher told RTÉ: “I had an unbelievable time at Donegal, and special memories.
“But his is a new chapter. This is about Derry now.”We just want to be here. We enjoy it and we’re looking forward to two brilliant weeks.”
Derry ran Donegal close in last years Ulster quarter-final in Ballybofey, as Patrick McBrearty kicked over a free late on as Donegal took the lead for the first time in the game to win 0-16 to 0-15.
Donegal and Derry clash in the Ulster final on May 29th in Clones.
