'What's the fuss' says Tony Scullion as Derry face first final under Mickey Harte

NO FUSS: Former Derry footballer Tony Scullion attends the launch of TG4's award-winning Laochra Gael series.  Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Tony Scullion says he can't fathom all the fuss about Mickey Harte taking over Derry, insisting it's 'the modern way'.

Scullion, an All-Ireland medallist with Derry in 1993 and a four-time All-Star, said he has friends who don't feel the same way.

But he believes it's a straightforward case of an ambitious manager moving to take over an ambitious county with All-Ireland aspirations.

"Sure a lot of counties have outside managers and clubs the same - it's the modern way," stressed Scullion.

On whether Derry can achieve their goal this year and bring back Sam, full-time Ulster Council coach Scullion said it's definitely possible.

The back-to-back Ulster champions will contest their first final under Harte today, the McKenna Cup decider against a Jim McGuinness managed Donegal in Omagh (5pm).

"Good luck to Mickey Harte," said Scullion of the three-time All-Ireland winning manager. "I've been asked that question before and I don't know what all the fuss is about here. We're delighted to have Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin as Derry management.

"I don't see any problem, there's outside managers going into every county and we're hoping Mickey Harte can take us another step, into an All-Ireland final in Croke Park hopefully later on this year."

Asked if making the All-Ireland final following two semi-final defeats in 2022 and 2023, and possibly then winning it, is a runner, Scullion nodded.

"I think we can," he said. "Mickey has been trying a number of players in the McKenna Cup and lads are stepping up. I think we need more depth in our squad. And that's what Mickey is trying to find. So I would say we're in the (All-Ireland) talk but let me tell you, we have a long way to go before we think about Croke Park.

"Donegal in the first round of the Ulster championship in Celtic Park, a Jim McGuinness coached Donegal team, sure you couldn't look any further than Celtic Park."

Attendees, back row, from left, former Derry footballer Tony Scullion, former Tyrone footballer Kevin Hughes, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy, former Laois hurler Pat Critchley and former Galway hurler and footballer Alan Kerins and front row, from left, former Dublin ladies footballer Lindsay Peat, former Clare hurler Tony Griffin and former Tipperary camogie player Ciara Gaynor.

Scullion was speaking at the launch of TG4's latest Laochra Gael series. His life story will feature in episode two on February 1. He remains part of the last Derry team to win the All-Ireland but desperately wants that to change.

"I experienced it as a player in 1993 and now before the man above takes me, I would love to be sitting in Croke Park, like all them spectators in 1993, witnessing my county lift the second Sam Maguire Cup," he said.

Scullion last year celebrated a novel anniversary - a decade of the black card. It was introduced in 2013 on the advice of the Football Review Committee which he was a member of.

"I really do think our game has been cleaned up of that deliberate trip, or deliberate pull down," he said. "Yes, players are still doing it, whether it's to see out a game or whatever, but generally over the course of a 60 or 70-minute game, there's less of those fouls in the game. It's not because I was involved in it but I think it was a very good introduction, the black card."