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Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh \u00a9INPHO\/Lorcan Doherty<\/p>\n
\n Meenagh offers no excuses
\n June 16, 2026<\/p>\n
Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh \u00a9INPHO\/Lorcan Doherty<\/p>\n
Derry boss Ciaran Meenagh was making no excuses after his side bowed out of the All-Ireland SFC race at the hands of Meath.<\/p>\n
The 1-20 to 1-24 loss at Find Insurance Celtic Park capped a disappointing season for the Oak Leafers who also suffered championship defeats to Monaghan and Armagh.<\/p>\n
“We didn\u2019t deserve to win, so we can have no complaints,\u201d the Derry manager told the media.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put a huge amount of effort into trying to get a lift for a performance. It was very difficult after the\u00a0Monaghan\u00a0game. We didn’t (get it) for the\u00a0Armagh\u00a0game and it was the same tonight. Ultimately, we weren\u2019t good enough, so that\u2019s the season to a close now.<\/p>\n
“When you’re chasing a game for a lot of it, and you don’t have the ball for a lot of it, it\u2019s energy sapping and\u00a0Meath, you had that feeling that they were the better side. As the game wore on, they started to get their scores easier. They had a conversion rate of over 80 per cent in the second half there as well so that was a big thing.<\/p>\n
“Again, the breeze died a bit second half compared to what it was in the first half but look, all in all, those are miniscule things and we can have no complaints.”<\/p>\n
Meenagh felt that Derry never fully recovered from their dramatic Ulster SFC semi-final extra-time defeat to Monaghan.<\/p>\n
“You’re never quite sure. I’d say the damage following the Monaghan result was probably more difficult but we tried and we stuck together.<\/p>\n
“The players were loyal right through but ultimately we weren’t good enough. That’s the way it goes,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n