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Derry boss Paddy Tally said that his side's focus turns to their Ulster Championship opener against Donegal after their relegation to Division Two was confirmed.
The Oak Leafers, who won Division One last year, were relegated after a 2-19 to 1-17 defeat against Mayo left them with just one point in the league with one game remaining.
And Tally conceded that next week's final league game against All-Ireland winners Armagh is effectively a dead rubber.
"It is [all about the Donegal game], Championship is coming up in three weeks and you haven't an awful lot of time to get ready for that," he told BBC Sport NI.
"The Armagh game, obviously we'll give our best and it's an opportunity for some boys to play, but our focus has to turn towards the Championship."
Tally hopes to have Brendan Rogers and Odhran Lynch available for the game against the Ulster champions.
Rogers hurt his ankle in the loss against Donegal two weeks ago, whilst Lynch hobbled off early against Mayo.
"That's the focus now getting those boys ready for that. Odhran, it was his quad, and we'll assess that, and Brendan is working away through the rehab programme so he should be back for championship, that's the plan."
The Derry manager admitted that a combination of factors contributed to their poor league form this year.
"It's disappointing, I think it's been a tough league for the players with the way it's worked out," he added.
"We've had to work with a skeletal panel at times, blood a few players and then the new rules, but today was the day we really wanted to finish off with a win [against Mayo], but we never got to the pitch of the game until it was too late."
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The Oak Leafers, who won Division One last year, were relegated after a 2-19 to 1-17 defeat against Mayo left them with just one point in the league with one game remaining.
And Tally conceded that next week's final league game against All-Ireland winners Armagh is effectively a dead rubber.
"It is [all about the Donegal game], Championship is coming up in three weeks and you haven't an awful lot of time to get ready for that," he told BBC Sport NI.
"The Armagh game, obviously we'll give our best and it's an opportunity for some boys to play, but our focus has to turn towards the Championship."
Tally hopes to have Brendan Rogers and Odhran Lynch available for the game against the Ulster champions.
Rogers hurt his ankle in the loss against Donegal two weeks ago, whilst Lynch hobbled off early against Mayo.
"That's the focus now getting those boys ready for that. Odhran, it was his quad, and we'll assess that, and Brendan is working away through the rehab programme so he should be back for championship, that's the plan."
The Derry manager admitted that a combination of factors contributed to their poor league form this year.
"It's disappointing, I think it's been a tough league for the players with the way it's worked out," he added.
"We've had to work with a skeletal panel at times, blood a few players and then the new rules, but today was the day we really wanted to finish off with a win [against Mayo], but we never got to the pitch of the game until it was too late."
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