Derry manager Meenagh admits side weren't good enough after Meath defeat

Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh conceded his side had "no complaints" after their All-Ireland Championship campaign ended with a 1-24 to 1-20 defeat by Meath at Celtic Park. The Oak Leafers rallied from an early deficit to level at 1-9 at half-time but could not seize control as Meath advanced to round three.

"I'm disappointed, we didn't deserve to win so we can have no complaints," Meenagh told BBC Sport NI. He highlighted Meath's dominance in possession, particularly from kick-outs, as a key factor. "If we had any return in the ball at all from both sets of kick-outs, we were scoring fairly easily," he said. "But they still dominated primary possession, and when they're taking over half of our possession and winning over 80% of their own, that leaves us in a difficult position."

Meenagh noted that chasing the game took a physical toll. "When you're chasing the game for a lot of it, then you're going to the ball for a lot of it. It's energy-sapping," he said. "They were the better side and, as the game wore on, they started to get their scores easier."

Despite the defeat, Meenagh pointed to the emergence of 19-year-old James Sargent, who scored 1-2 on his first Championship start. "He's a special talent," Meenagh said. "He's back from an ACL injury, so that was a positive. I thought he and some of the younger players were particularly good in terms of their battling qualities."

Reflecting on the end of a disappointing campaign, Meenagh said there was little he could say to lift spirits in the dressing room. "Everybody's very, very disappointed," he added. "You thank them for their efforts throughout the year, but there's not an awful lot you can say in a moment like that."