'No reason why we shouldn't stay up' - McBride
Despite an inauspicious start to his captaincy, new Derry skipper Johnny McBride is confident his side can regain their poise and maintain their place in NFL Division 1B this season.
The Oak Leafers lost 0-08 to 0-17 to Monaghan in Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup opener - a lacklustre performance which left midfielder McBride, who takes the leadership role from Paddy Bradley for this season, dumbfounded.
"It's not the way I would have wanted to start my captaincy - I don't really know what happened out there. Monaghan looked fitter and were first to every ball. There's a lot of thinking to be done over the next few days," McBride said.
Derry, under new manager Paddy Crozier, face a tough league campaign, beginning with a February 5 home date with Connacht champions Galway, but McBride is undaunted.
"Derry should be a Division One side. If we reach the knockout stages of the league that's well and good but staying up is the main priority.
"Down, Armagh, Laois and Wexford are good sides but they are all teams that we can compete with so there's no reason why we shouldn't stay up," the 28-year-old told the Derry Journal.
