Former Armagh star and current Wicklow boss Oisin McConville believes it will be “very difficult” for Derry to bounce back from relegation straight away against Donegal in the championship.

The Oak Leafers open their Ulster SFC campaign in nine days’ time against the holders in Ballybofey, where they will be looking to upset the odds to advance to a provincial quarter-final.

Speaking on The GAA Social podcast on BBC Sport NI this week, McConville says it’s difficult at the moment to see Paddy Tally’s side getting a result against the Tir Chonaill men.

"It will be very difficult for Derry to pick it up now because you are only talking two weeks until they play Donegal," said the 2002 All-Ireland winner.

"And when you consider the league that Donegal have had – even though a bit of a dip towards the end for whatever reason – you would think it's very difficult for Derry to go in and win that game. It's not impossible but it's very difficult to see it right now."

He added: "The personnel that Paddy Tally has available to him is not what it was even 12 months ago but also the confidence is sucked out of you when you continuously come out on the wrong side of results.

"There were a couple of times when they could have picked up results. The Kerry game is the one that people keep coming back to because it looked as if they were home in that game and managed to contrive to lose it."

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