Mickey Harte has taken the unusual step of playing Taylor Swift songs at training before the Kerry quarter-final after it emerged the American singer has Derry roots. It can also be revealed that Swift is looking forward to cheering on her native Derry in person and hopes ‘McKinless keeps the head’ but knows him all too well.

Harte, who is looking to avoid a cruel summer with a win over the Kingdom, is urging for Derry and Swift fans to merge this Sunday and support the team. The Ballygawley man hasn’t beaten Kerry in the championship since 2008, with this Sunday a chance to take that record and shake it off.

“I was delighted to hear the Swift girl was a big fan of Derry. To be honest, things were looking bleak lately and I was staring into a blank space. I know I was becoming an anti-hero and some people were claiming ‘I knew you were trouble’, but this could become a love-story and I say to the Derry fans, you belong with me.”

Swift, who is a big fan of Ballinderry style football, added that she hopes McKinless doesn’t get wound up:

“I know there’s a bit of bad blood between Mickey and Kerry but that was Tyrone. Mickey told the Tyrone board, ‘we are never betting back together’, so it’s all about Derry now. McKinless just needs to keep the head. I want Derry to win it this year. I don’t wanna live forever so this is the year. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d see Conor Glass in person. When I heard I was going to Croke I spilt my coffee and said to my agent, look what you made me do!”

When asked what his favourite Taylor Swift song was at training, McKinless went for Guilty As Sin.