Latest news with #GavinDevlin
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Kickouts key in Tyrone v Dublin quarter-final
Tyrone All-Ireland winning defender Gavin Devlin believes kickouts will be important in the Red Hands' All-Ireland quarter-final against O'Rourke's side have had the benefit of a week off after topping their group, whilst Dublin had to overcome Cork in their preliminary who worked with Micky Harte at Tyrone, Derry and Louth, acknowledges the last eight tie is a tough one to call, but he backs the Red Hands to edge past the Dubs - if they can get the kickout right."It's the mouthwatering game that stood out from the off and it's two teams who will think they have a chance," he told BBC Sport NI. "Kickouts now are monumental and it's a platform to build from. A lot on Saturday will come down to kickouts, it's who can control their own kickout and get their hands on the ball and who can get after the other kickout and steal possession. "Whoever does that will win the game."Devlin, who won the Sam Maguire in 2003 and 2005, thinks that Dublin will be a much bigger threat if midfielder Con O'Callaghan is fit to feature after he missed the win over Cork."There's a lot made about Con last week and if he was available or not, we are not privy to the inside, maybe Con just was not available but if he was available and Dessie [O'Farrell] just decided not to put him in it was a gamble that paid off now he has the benefit of an extra week," he added."Everyone knows how important he is and Dublin still have those household names and characters that can turn the game. They're not the giants they once were but they still have transitional moments where they break forward and every pass is forward, and they have the know-how."Tyrone will be under no illusions of what they have to do to shut it down."Devlin, who now manages Derry club Magherafelt, also praised Tyrone's steady improvement under O'Rourke and hopes they are starting to peak at the right time."I've been really impressed by Tyrone although they got relegated in the National League, they left a lot of points behind but against Armagh they showed serious resilience and to top the group the way they did, with that win in Ballybofey against Donegal, it shows serious belief is with Tyrone."
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Draw against Galway can be a turning point in Derry's season, says McKaigue
Former Derry full back Chrissy McKaigue is hopeful that the Oak Leaf county's draw against Galway can be a turning point for a side which has faced criticism in a winless 2025 season. The Derry squad were recently castigated by former coach Gavin Devlin, who worked with them under Mickey Harte last year. Appearing on the Smaller Fish GAA podcast, Devlin said the Derry players were still 'sulking' over the departure of Rory Gallagher in 2023 and suggested that current manager Paddy Tally should 'run a million miles' from the job. 'Gavin's a very affable character, I'm very friendly with him. We all heard that comment,' said McKaigue. 'But if you were at the game at the weekend you would say to yourself hopefully this is the real turning point for that Derry group.' Derry led by eight points in the second half at Celtic Park but had to pull out a last-minute equaliser after Matthew Tierney's 69th-minute goal for the Tribesmen put the visitors ahead. READ MORE 'No one really gave them a chance against Galway, let's be honest. I think Galway themselves were taken back by the intensity that Derry brought. From a Derry point of view, it was a performance to warm the heart. Nine times out of 10 they get the result.' McKaigue also discussed his mixed feelings towards the new rules , although he did say that the game was better overall than when he retired at the end of 2024. 'One thing that hasn't been talked about enough, which is a complete game changer, is the ball not being allowed to go back to the goalkeeper. I think that single-handedly has been a fantastic rule,' he added. 'The three men up is probably a necessary evil. I think the solo-and-go adds to the game, although I'm not quite sure about having to give the person four metres of a clearance zone.' On the other hand, he believes that the two-point arc has been a negative change. 'I'm not a fan of the two-point arc or the kickout arc at all,' he explained. 'In the climate that we live in, where there's quite often a hurricane blowing, I think has too big a bearing on the result of a game. 'The game needed more chaos, but in typical GAA fashion, we've brought the needle from one end of the gauge right to the other instead of bringing it towards the middle.'
