The GAA Social: Oisin McConville hails Niall Devlin's Tyrone display after tragedy

Oisin McConville praised Niall Devlin's "mental fortitude" in starring in Tyrone's win over Monaghan a week after the funeral of his brother Caolan who tragically died in a road accident.

Tyrone's victory meant the Red Hands preserved their Division One status as Monaghan were relegated.

McConville told The GAA Social that Devlin's display was only bettered by man of the match Darragh Canavan.

"It looked as if it was very important for him to play," added McConville.

"It's the right thing when a player wants to play. A lot of times you're putting your hand up because you feel you must or you have to.

"But as far as the grieving process is concerned, I do feel Niall and the family will get a lot out of that.

"I thought he was one of the best players on the field. Only for a masterclass from Darragh Canavan, I thought he was next in line for man of the match, he was that good.

"To have the mental fortitude and resilience and the bravery to put yourself forward in a situation like that, he deserves nothing but credit," added McConville.

"And we moan about gaelic football sometimes and the quality of it and the strains of people enjoying it and that sort of thing but it's amazing at times like this what it can do for you and the way the GAA community can rally round after a tragedy like that.

"There is no sport that does that better."

Tyrone's victory in a game that McConville said had had "unbelievable quality" despite the wet conditions in Omagh meant Monaghan dropped to Division Two for the first time since 2014 but the 2002 Armagh All-Ireland winner believes the Farney County will be able to take positives from the contest.

"I saw enough from Monaghan the other night to think that they'll still be OK and that there will no team taking them for granted through the summer.

"It was [also] Conor McManus' first start of the league. He still has it judging by that point he kicked in the second half off his left foot with no backlift - yeah……he's still going to be knocking about too."

At the top of Division One, Derry remain on course for a place in the League Final after they overcame Mayo 3-15 to 2-13 in an exciting game at Castlebar.

Shane McGuigan tallied 1-4 in the first half alone and went on to add two further points in another man-of-the-match display which included making a vital late block in his own defence.

"He's covering some ground at the minute and still has the ability to get up top and get the crucial scores," added McConville.

"He seems to make the right decision all of the time and he obviously is a deadly finisher."

Derry will be guarantee a league final place if they avoid defeat against relegation-threatened Roscommon at Celtic Park next weekend and McConville says playing in the Division One decider will be the perfect tune-up for their Ulster Championship contest against Donegal three weeks later.

"For anybody to say, 'we don't want to be in a league final….we don't want to win the league'….I can't compute that stuff. That would just fry my head," continued McConville.

"This idea that somehow it hampers your progress down the line is absolute nonsense."

McConville's own Wicklow team will be involved in one of several relegation contests next weekend when they take on Antrim in Belfast.

An Antrim victory will save the Saffrons from the drop to Division Four - relegating Wicklow in the process - while if the Garden County win at Corrigan Park, the Saffrons will be relegated should Offaly also beat Limerick in Tullamore.

At the top of the table in Division Three, Down's draw with Westmeath in Mullingar on Sunday means the Mournemen must avoid defeat at home to Clare next Sunday to be certain of earning promotion, with the Bannermen going up if they win at Pairc Esler and Westmeath, in turn, taking the other spot if they win or draw in Sligo.

"Having played both teams I think that will be a cracker of a game," added McConville of the Newry game.

"I don't think there will be a big pile between those two teams."

McConville was hugely impressed by his native Armagh's display in clinching promotion alongside Donegal as they ruthlessly ended Cavan's hopes of ascent to Division One by earning a 2-21 to 0-12 win at the Athletic Grounds.

"Armagh have been very impressive. They struggled in the Louth game but since that they've been one of the most impressive teams in the country."

At the bottom of Division Two, Fermanagh slipped into the relegation places as Louth put six goals past them at Ardee.

"Anybody that's watched Louth this year will maybe feel that they were owed something because they have been really, really unlucky in a couple of games. Sometimes you run into something like that," added McConville's of Fermanagh's hammering.

A Fermanagh win over Cavan will not be enough to save them if Louth avoid defeat against already-relegated Kildare in Carlow.

"I don't think Saturday was a fair reflection of how good Fermanagh have been all year but definitely confidence will not be in a great place after that result," said McConville.