“I think they have missed a trick" - Derry manager Paddy Tally bemoans the absence of the Dr McKenna Cup

New Derry boss Paddy Tally says the pre-season competitions should have been retained this year as a testing ground for football’s experimental rules.

But the Tyrone and Kerry All-Ireland winning coach would have no issue if they were scrapped next year.

A move at a recent Central Council meeting to have the likes of the McKenna Cup, O’Byrne Cup, FBD League and McGrath Cup reinstated narrowly failed.

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The competition had been cancelled for a year at the previous Central Council meeting in move to protect player welfare, which was backed by GAA President Jarlath Burns and promoted by the GPA as GPA chiefs want November to become a ‘zero contact month.’

But the advent of the Football Review Committee’s (FRC) new rules, including the solo and go, the two points scoring arc and having to keep three players inside both 65s at all times, led to calls for a reprieve for the preseason competitions.

Tally told Derry GAA: “It’s a pity it’s (McKenna Cup) not on this year above all years.

“Managers come and go every year and they use the McKenna Cup to see what’s out there. It would be lovely if we could do that, but also with the advent of the new rules, it would have made sense to allow those competitions to be played this year under the new rules to prepare you for the start of the League.

“I think they have missed a trick there. I’d have no fear if next year they wanted to let the competitions go. Fair enough, but this year would have been a good year to keep it on.”

Tally says the new rules mean squads will change as managers look for different types of players.

“It changes the way you think about the game,” he said. “The new rules are going to place different demands on positions and the type of players you need in certain roles within the team.

“Of course you are going to look at different players. You can’t go back and base your selection on what was there before because this is a new game.

“We will be studying that closely to work out what is the best way to go forward but definitely there will be changes because of that.”

Tally insists has “no issue” with the December 7 date for a return to collective training for inter-county teams, insisting players need the rest.

He also insists Derry football is in its “healthiest state for a long time,” and said that he was in the county to win.

“I have very high personal ambitions in life in terms of sport. I have always liked working at the top level.

“That’s why if an opportunity comes to go work in Kerry, you go there to win.

“You don’t go to Kerry for the holidays or scenery. You do the hard yards, make that travel to ultimately be successful. Otherwise, why do you do it?

“You don’t take this job (Derry) on other than to win. On a personal level, winning is the key to being a manager at this level but that’s a way down the line.”

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