Derry footballer Brendan Rogers has opened up about the team’s disappointing 2024 championship campaign, insisting that the players never lost faith in former manager Mickey Harte, despite a series of early-season setbacks. Rogers acknowledged, however, that the team’s focus in the pre-season may have contributed to their struggles in the championship.
Derry entered 2024 as Ulster champions for two consecutive years, with high expectations following a successful pre-season. They won the Dr McKenna Cup and triumphed over Dublin in the Allianz Football League Division 1 final. However, their championship run faltered, with losses to Donegal, Galway, and Armagh in the group stages, followed by an exit in the quarter-finals at the hands of Kerry.
Harte, who had been in charge for less than 10 months, departed shortly after the defeat, and was replaced by Tyrone native Paddy Tally. Despite the disappointing results, Rogers emphasized that the players remained committed to the management team.
“I don’t think it was a case that players just switched off after winning the National League,” Rogers told RTÉ Sport. “There were a lot of factors at play, and both players and management would agree that we could have done things better.”
Rogers acknowledged that while the team’s tactics may not have always been perfect, the defeats were a result of small errors at critical moments. He also pointed to the resilience shown in Derry’s victory over Mayo in the preliminary quarter-finals, noting that it demonstrated the team’s capability despite the earlier setbacks.
Reflecting on Harte’s time with the team, Rogers praised the experienced manager for his tactical acumen and passion for the sport. “He brought a lot of good learnings to us, both in terms of team motivation and individual self-motivation. He’s a man who never settles for mediocrity, and his relentless desire for success was evident.”
Despite the team’s struggles in the championship, Rogers acknowledged that the pursuit of a strong National League campaign may have taken a toll on their later season performance. “We put a lot of emphasis on proving ourselves at Division 1 level,” he said. “Maybe we could have balanced things better, but you can’t ignore the league entirely. At least we can look back and say we ticked those boxes.”
Looking ahead, Rogers believes that the team has learned valuable lessons from this season. “We have to manage our season better and develop from what happened this year. It’s about striking the right balance moving forward.”
As Derry prepares for next season under new management, Rogers and his teammates will aim to build on the lessons learned from a challenging 2024 campaign.
