DERRY may have impressed many people during this year’s league, but according to their manager there is still plenty of work to be done.

Rory Gallagher says last weekend’s win over Limerick was not a performance he would be happy with, and he wants to see improvement in this weekend’s National League Division Three final against Offaly.

“I wasn’t overly pleased with our performance against Limerick. So we are looking for an improved display. We left a lot of easy chances behind and over played the ball.

“We want to get a performance to get ready for the championship.”

In terms of what he has been happy about is that his attack has been doing well, to a point.

“We have been creating chances. We have been dominant on the ball. In all the games we have been the better team. But in all the four games the other teams have been hanging in the games longer than they should have.

“I would be looking improvements there.”

With regards make up of the team, Gallagher said he doesn’t want to do too much tinkering.

“We might use this weekend’s game to bring in two lads, possibly three, that haven’t got starting. We have went with a settled teams so far. Everyone has performed really well, everybody has played their part.

“We feel we have made a good selection based on who has done well in training.”

Having a settled team is important.

“It is something that myself and the management have set out to do. We want to go into the championship with 12-14 players nailed on from early on. Obviously things change in training, but we wanted to do that. We felt there was too much chopping and changing in Derry over the last number of years, and even last year with ourselves. I think that we have reached a stage now where we are consistent.

“I am happy with the commitment of the players. Everyone is giving what is needed in terms of preparation.”

In terms of personnel, Brendan Rogers has been recovering from injury and Gallagher said that he wants to continue to rest him so he is right come championship time.

MIXED EMOTIONS… Gallagher says there are positives and negatives to take from Derry’s form