Former Derry City star Gerard Doherty reflect on a Championship debut at 44!

Derry Journal

Former Derry City star Gerard Doherty reflects on a Derry Championship debut at 44 after helping Doire Trasna into the Junior Football Final on a remarkable evening at Owenbeg

Transcript

00:01Gerard, you're swapping the Brandiwell for Owen Begg here.

00:05First of all, tell us the story of how you came to be Pierce's keeper in the Junior Championship semi-final.

00:10Well, we're all connected. My partner's one of the McNaughts who are massively involved in the club.

00:16So, it was reserves I was meant to play on Monday night.

00:20I actually got to shout for Monday night to play and when I agreed to play in that match,

00:24Unluckily for me, one of my cousins is in the chat and seen that and he's also the manager here too.

00:31So, unfortunately for the keeper, he had a bad injury. I think his ankle's bad.

00:35So, they just asked me to play. So, simple as that.

00:39Ever any doubt in it?

00:41No, not any doubt. Well, I came out for the warm-up and started kicking them balls.

00:45There was a wee bit of doubt. I've never been a long kicker of the ball, even a soccer ball.

00:50But, no, it was hard to get the grips ready to adjust for a wee minute.

00:54But, no, hey, what can you say about the boys there, honestly?

00:59I actually have my gloves off. I've seen the wee killing behind the net.

01:02I think we're going to score. I'm putting these back on.

01:04And the boys pulled it out of the bag and they had the heart to go on them on it there.

01:07So, brilliant. Fair play to them all.

01:08A Friday night under lights isn't exactly something new for you, given the career you've had.

01:12But, how did you find the transition? Because it's a hell of a change.

01:15No, I thought it would have been a wee bit stranger, to be honest.

01:18To be fair, when I came in the change rooms, all the boys was great.

01:22And, as you say, I was sort of used to it.

01:24So, I came out and done my warm-up and a wee bit nervous on that throughout the day.

01:28But, if you're not nervous coming into a match against us, so I'm not me.

01:31But, as soon as the warm-up was over and done my, you're ready to rock and roll.

01:34When was the last time you played a game of Gaelic football?

01:37When I was 14.

01:3920 years ago.

01:41And, I mean, you took there like a duck to water. A couple of saves there.

01:44The one with the leg in the second half, especially turning back the years.

01:47Aye, a bit of luck involved.

01:49But, I thought my hip was going to pop out there when the leg flew up.

01:53A wee bit of luck.

01:55Disappointed with the last goal going in there.

01:57We knew we had it won, but we still don't want to concede in the last couple of seconds.

02:01Not happy with that.

02:03But, I suppose the celebrations for the fans and all the family will make up for it tonight.

02:07And, you now have a junior championship playing to look forward to.

02:11I'm assuming you're available, are you?

02:13I don't know. I don't know yet.

02:15We'll have to check the dates.

02:16But, the first thing I'm going to do is go and get a rule book.

02:19And, read through that.

02:20Because, there was a couple of times there, I didn't have a clue what I was doing.

02:23I thought wee Caelan, the umpire behind the net would have given me a hand.

02:25But, that wasn't happening.

02:27But, no, the boy has done great there.

02:29So, I'm sure everybody is excited.

02:31The whole club is excited for the final.

02:33And, they deserve it.

02:35They absolutely deserve it.

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