FANS THE BEATING HEART OF OUR SIDE

ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL, CROKE PARK, SATURDAY, 3.45PM

THE Derry support has made “an unbelievable difference” as the team swept to a rare Ulster title, says Chrissy Mckaigue.

The enduring image of this year’s Championship so far is that of swathes of white and red invading the field in St Tiernach’s Park following Derry’s extra time win over Donegal last month.

It’s a far cry from sparsely attended qualifier matches over the years that have been shifted out to Owenbeg in favour of what would have been a cavernous Celtic Park.

But Mckaigue believes that support has to be earned.

He said: “I think the playing group has to take responsibility for it too. There hasn’t been a huge amount of support. “Derry were obviously in an Ulster final in 2011 - I wasn’t there - but in Brian Mciver’s first year we won the Division Two final and we played Down in the first round at Celtic Park.

“There was a really big crowd there that day too but they beat us. We went on a decent run in the back door and that year also beat Down again. Cavan beat us after extra time and got to the (All-ireland) quarter-final.

“The next year we got to the Division One final. There was a big Derry crowd following that, but you have to give people something to support.

“I think people in Derry were starting to see that, yes, we were beaten last year by Donegal, but they started to see the green shoots in Derry, following the League.

“Just to see the improvement in the team. Derry, like any other county, don’t expect the unrealistic.

“But I don’t think it’s too much to ask to look for an improvement and look for something to support and finally now this playing group has given them something to support and by God in the few Championship games this year they have made an unbelievable difference to us. I suppose the scenes on Sunday has caught everyone’s imagination and it was very special to see it.

“It’s just lovely to see a football mad county like Derry getting back to them scenes, because it has been long overdue.”