By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey is calling for more intensity from his side ahead of Saturday’s Ulster derby with Down at Owenbeg.

The Oakleafers’ boss asked his team to ensure they secured both points from Saturday’s opener with Tyrone.

“It will take a better performance for sure against Down,” he said. “Your home matches are crucial.”

Gerald Bradley’s first-half goal was the difference against the Red Hands with Shea Cassidy landing four points in a two-point win.

“It was two points in the bag,” McGarvey said. “We are disappointed in the way that we played. It was a poor performance.

“We never really found any momentum in the game, never really got into any rhythm.

“Conditions turned it into a dog fight and we never got out of the dog fight.

“We were there to get two points, not to get pats on the back for how good a match it was.”

Derry began without Paddy Kelly, who pulled up with an injury, while Ruairí Ó Mianáin and Cormac O’Doherty came back from Sleacht Néill’s club campaign with injuries.

“It was a week, maybe two weeks too early for some of them,” said McGarvey, who hopes to have Na Magha’s Deaglan Foley in contention.

Down and Meath were made to battle all the way for wins over Kildare and Donegal, pointing to a very competitive Division Two.

“We will see what they bring,” he said of Saturday’s opponents, again under the watch of Ronan Sheehan.

“If Down are beating Kildare in Ballycran then they’re going to be a totally different kettle of fish.

“Our intensity levels would need to go way, way up.”

“I thought Tyrone won the battle,” he said of last weekend’s game. “Especially when the ball was on the ground, when we missed the ball.

“I don’t think our intensity levels were high enough, especially in the tackle. Tyrone dictated the way the game was played.”