Mickey Harte: Gavin Devlin is best coach I’ve seen... after 27 years, he’s like a son

Gavin Devlin and Mickey Harte have continued their successful partnership with Derry

Donnchadh Boyle

Championship season number 23 for Mickey Harte in senior inter-county football and almost nothing is the same as it was. Not the preparation levels or the body shapes or the schedule. Not even the fundamental pillars of the game remain. These days it’s all ball retention and scoring zones, plus ones and even roaming goalkeepers.

But ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Donegal, Harte remains as relevant now as when he stormed the 2003 season to claim Tyrone’s first All-Ireland. There’s been water under the bridge since in both Tyrone and Louth and then Derry.