Review of the Year in Derry: A tricky season for the senior footballers

By Michael McMullan

A winless run

AFTER the joy of back-to-back Ulster titles and landing a Division One league title, this season will always be remembered as one where Derry senior footballers failed to win a game.

It resulted in relegation and a tame exit from the Ulster Championship. There were noted improvements by the end of the All-Ireland series before the exit door slammed shut.

Paddy Tally walked into the toughest gig in the country. It was at the eleventh hour after a winter of uncertainty. There were injuries and there were new rules

He was to stay on, then he didn’t before Ciarán Meenagh made a return to take the manager post ahead of 2026. Oakleaf fans will be writing to Santa for a change in fortunes.

Hurlers fall short again

UNDER Johnny McGarvey, the senior hurlers retained their status in a new-look Division Two after losing three games on the trot. It was a chastening part of the season before they got the result they needed.

In the Christy Ring Cup, there was one focus and that was to get their hands on the cup. Hurling with balance and confidence, Derry began to show progress that took them all the way to the final.

That’s where it finished. London played the final on their terms and Derry, while not getting a few key decisions, were left feeling around in the dark.

This will be the regret given it was an excellent opportunity to eventually get that monkey off their back.

Same story, different year

SLEACHT Néill did what Sleacht Néill do. They won a 13th Derry senior hurling title to maintain their amazing run that began after a barren run of 13 years without getting their hands on the Fr Collins Cup.

It took the Oakleaf champions back into the Ulster arena to defend their Ulster title. With another couple of younger players blended into the equation, they came through a semi-final clash with Portaferry, a repeat of the previous year’s final.

Defending from Fionn McEldowney and Cathal Ó Mianáin saw them close down St John’s with Cormac O’Doherty shooting the lights out at the other end in the final.

It brought a sixth Ulster titles in nine attempts as they cemented their place as the hurling team of the decade in the province.

Glenullin glory

THERE was a 100th year celebration in Glenullin where the senior football team also grabbed the headlines by winning a third intermediate title in four years.

A motivation of getting back to senior football was evident and everything rested on their county final against Foreglen with a late Eoin Bradley two-pointer sealing victory. They backed it up with comfortable wins over Moneyglass and Sarsfields before an eventful semi-final with Carrickmacross.

The ‘Glen were chasing the game all the way to Néill McNicholl’s late, late goal which earned them extra-time where the then found a way to win. With fine team performance, in front of their growing band of colourful fans, they accounted for Cuchulainn’s of Cavan to land a first ever Ulster title.

Back-to-backs for Newbridge

ON the senior football front, Newbridge came into their 100th season with their hands on the John McLaughlin Cup.

In a year when more clubs were in with a realistic chance of glory, Newbridge won the league only to lose their opening championship game to Dungiven.

They looked in the mirror, took stock and came back to win the title with knock-out wins over Steelstown, Sleacht Néill and Magherafelt.

Following a win over Madden and an abandoned semi-final, they locked horns with Scotstown in what was one of the season’s classic games only to lose in a penalty shootout.

The rest of the county will have them in their crosshairs, while the ‘Bridge will get revved up for a crack at a third title.