Derry manager Damien McErlain feels that the county can't catch a break this year.

The Oakleafers were handed a tough All-Ireland SFC qualifier when the draw was made and they were paired with a Kildare side that will be hurting following their shock defeat to Carlow.

McErlain is sure to have wanted an easier first round task to get their campaign back on track, but Derry are at home and they must make the most of that at Owenbeg on Saturday evening.

"On paper, outside Mayo and Tyrone, this is the hardest draw we could have got and I suppose that's typical of the type of year we've had," McErlain told the Derry Journal.

"Kildare have taken a lot of stick and will be hurting in terms of all the abuse they've taken and yes, Carlow delivered on the day but it was a bit of a freak result as well. For me, Kildare were the better side."

McErlain added that he is still annoyed by their Ulster championship exit to Donegal last month.

"The lack of intensity we brought wasn't what we talked about. Did the heat play a factor? Maybe, did the fact it was a the first time we were playing a Division One side and it took us that crucial 10 or 15 minutes to get up to their tempo? That was costly."

He added: "But at county level you can't give anyone a head start, particularly not a team of Donegal or Kildare's stature. Kildare have competed well with all the top teams in the country in the league. They only lost by two points to Donegal and one to Tyrone which shows the level they're at."

Follow our match tracker this weekend for a feast of action in both the football and hurling championships with live coverage from 15 games across both codes.

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