All-Ireland performances will 'build character'
Paddy Tally believes his Derry side are "not that far away" from beating the top teams despite exiting the All-Ireland in the group stages.Saturday's 0-22 to 0-20 defeat by Dublin left Tally's side bottom of a hotly-contested Group Four. Their sole point came from a draw with Galway, but Tally believes the narrow defeat in Newry by Dublin shows his side are on the right track."We didn't plan this to be the last day of the season," Tally told BBC Sport NI."The team were starting to go really well and we looked in better shape than we've been in for a while, but we hit a good Dublin team today."Group Four had been billed as the 'group of death' with reigning All-Ireland champions Armagh, beaten finalists Galway and 2023 winners Dublin drawn with the Oak Leafers.Derry were also pitted against eventual winners Donegal in the preliminary quarter-final of the Ulster Championship. Tally admits that made for a "difficult" first year in charge, but says the strong performances against Division One opposition will only fuel the belief his team belong at the top table of gaelic football."Everything that fell for us was really difficult this year, but that will build character. "These boys will understand it, not that it will help because they believe they are good enough and they are good enough."I think they have realised that we're not that far away. It's going to take a really big effort to get back up there next season again."
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