Derry GAA: Mickey Harte to ‘dig through debris’ of All-Ireland loss to Armagh

While Armagh deserve huge credit for producing one of their best championship displays of Kieran McGeeney’s 10 years in charge, a lot of the fallout from Sunday’s game in Celtic Park will inevitably centre on the losers.

Derry’s form has nosedived in startling fashion, defensive structures torn asunder in conceding 9-42 in the three defeats by Donegal, Galway and Armagh.

Although there were some deja-vu moments reminiscent to the Donegal game when Armagh turned the ball over and had plenty of green grass in front of them as they poured forward for goals, Harte felt there was one key difference in how they leaked the big scores.

“Yes, Armagh played with a huge intensity but I think we gifted them the key to the door, so to speak.

“Some of Donegal’s goals came from kick-outs but I think this time we gave away some crucial balls that it wasn’t really all intensity, it was errors on our part, and it’s very hard to deal with that.

“When you’re trying to beat your way back into a bit of form and concede goals like we did there in the first half, then it’s an uphill battle all the way.”