Derry GAA: Oak Leafers earned the right to rest players and 'play the long game' in Dublin defeat

Armagh All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville says Derry earned the right to rest some of their key players in Saturday's Division One loss to Dublin.

Conor Glass was among those who sat out the 1-16 to 1-11 defeat at Celtic Park, Derry's first reverse of the campaign.

"It's important you pick your fights and the fact that they've started so well has given them the opportunity to do that," said BBC analyst McConville.

"It was their prerogative to do whatever they wanted at the weekend."

"They felt that was the best thing for the long term to give Derry some form of long-term advantage over other teams."

Speaking on The GAA Social weekend review on BBC Sounds, McConville conceded that the Oak Leafers' team selection dampened the pre-match sense of anticipation somewhat with Mickey Harte making seven changes from the win over Galway and handing first league starts to Eunan Mulholland and Donncha Gilmore.

However, McConville outlined what he believes were the reasons behind Harte's selection.

"It was something to really look forward to, then 20 minutes before throw-in it didn't seem as important any more," said the Wicklow manager of the Derry-Dublin encounter.

"Dublin controlled the majority of the game. Derry got a goal against the run of play and did more or less as they pleased in the second half.

"I think it will stand to Derry that they're not in a scrap to stay in the division, struggling against relegation, or even mid-table. There's still a very good chance they'll be in a league final.

"I don't know if that's the thinking, if that's what they want. I couldn't see how they wouldn't be going for a league final but at the weekend it was just a case of 'we have to take our medicine at some stage'."

Harte's side went into their meeting with the Dubs on the back of four consecutive wins and will face Mayo away and Roscommon at home in their final two fixtures of the regular league season.

McConville believes Derry are playing the long game with more than one eye on the forthcoming Championship campaign over the spring and summer months.

"My instinct is there is no way you're going to come through an inter-county season unscathed, there's no way you're going to continue to win games and play at the same pace.

"I think the writing was on the wall the week before with the Galway performance. As much as it was a win it didn't seem like the energy was at the level it probably should have been.

"They [Derry] probably saw the gap [in fixtures] coming up. Conor Glass gets a night off and they get the chance to effectively rest those bodies for two weeks from the Galway game.

"There's no way these boys can keep going at the pace they are going at, and some players would really benefit from a couple of weeks off.

"That probably has changed from the start of the year. Even in his wildest dreams I'm sure Mickey Harte couldn't have imagined how easily they won their first four league games.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there's an element rested the next day, although what makes that different now is that break week, which I think will help every county."

In Sunday's Division One action, David Clifford inspired Kerry to a 0-18 to 1-11 win over Tyrone as Monaghan's survival hopes were hit by a 3-12 to 0-14 home loss to Galway.

Clifford scored 0-8 as Kerry all but secured their Division One status while the Red Hands are far from safe after falling to a third league defeat.

Ciaran Daly's goal came too late in the Killarney contest for Tyrone, who appeared to lose their way after a scuffle midway through the first half.

"It's great to see a bit of spice in the game, no better place to have it," observed McConville.

"I learned pretty early in my inter-county career when we went down to Kerry to play in Killarney that Kerry were as adept in the dark arts as anybody.

"Not only that, but whatever you got from Kerry you were going to have to earn it. People have realised that now, it's not going down there for a lovely 'spray the ball here, spray the ball there' sort of game.

"If you want to mix it Kerry will absolutely mix it with you. It's good to see Tyrone went there to do that and not to lie down and have their belly tickled.

"Some games look very sanitised sometimes, I know it's very tactical but that shouldn't take away from the blood and thunder. That's something that probably has been missed along the way and it's good to see a bit of that back."

Tyrone's next game will be an Ulster derby against Monaghan in two weeks' time as both sides attempt to steer clear of relegation.

"If we were enthused by a bit of blood and thunder down in Kerry I've no doubt we'll see that in two weeks, an important game for both teams," said McConville.

"For Monaghan, to keep things in their own hands they'll obviously have to win that game. Lose and it's bust. In that respect it's a massive game, almost a season defining game already."