HORSE & HARTE
Mickey salutes loyal No.2 Devlin
Fiercely loyal to his mentor and the man who handed him his big break, Gavin Devlin is Harte’s right-hand man.
Devlin’s reputation as one of sharpest football brains around continues to grow in the wake of Derry’s recent performance in their Division One final victory over Dublin.
Harte admits Devlin is “gold to me” and “as good as another son” while comparing him to a great snooker player who can think three shots ahead.
Ardboe man Devlin – nicknamed Horse – is at the very top end of the elite coaching tree.
He was Harte’s No.2 as Tyrone went to the All-ireland final in 2018 before the pair moved on to Louth at the end of 2020 and then Derry for this campaign.
Devlin knew Derry football well, coming from the Loughshore border area and having coached Oak Leaf clubs Newbridge and Slaughtneil.
But Harte claims it was still a big jump.
“Obviously it is, particularly where he lives on the border with Derry. I am insulated a bit from it, I am far enough away from the border not to be too concerned about it,” Harte said.
“The nearer you are to somebody, the bigger the rivalry. He has just been very loyal to me over time. I have always said he is as good as another son to me.”
Harte famously drafted Devlin straight back into the Tyrone starting line-up for the 2003 All-ireland semifinal triumph over Kerry after he had sat out the entire Championship.
Devlin had been hit with a 12-week ban for standing on Colm Parkinson in the League final victory over Laois.
“At that stage we had a strong relationship,” said Harte, who also managed Devlin to back-to-back Allireland U21 titles.
“You are talking 1998 minors, through three years of the U21s and then into the seniors.
“We had built a lot of trust in each other and I knew his qualities.
“I knew his value to the team. I didn’t think twice about it. As soon as his suspension was over, he fitted the bill.”
Devlin stepped away from Tyrone duty in 2007 at just 26 years of age with five All-ireland medals in his pocket – two senior, two U21 and one minor.
“He was young enough,” said Harte. “I think he saw the game moving in a way that didn’t suit his greatest assets which were reading the game and being in a certain place.
“It was a kind of a decision he made himself, I didn’t have to tell him to go or anything else. He saw that the game was changing in a way that wouldn’t have suited his skill sets.”