By Michael McMullan

ULSTER champions Sleacht Néill will be without two key defenders when they put their title on the line against Portaferry later this month.

Sean Cassidy has suffered a torn cruciate ligament with Conor Coyle also out of contention with a hamstring injury.

Both played in the last year’s clash of the teams when the Derry champions needed a sterling comeback to reel a rampant Portaferry back in to lift the title.

Manager Paul McCormack will be able to call on Chrissy McKaigue who took a season away from hurling in 2024.

While McKaigue joins the attack, the Emmet’s have lost Jack Cassidy out the other side after making the move to study in America and pursue a kicking career in the NFL.

Sleacht Néill won a 13th Derry title but Sean Cassidy tearing his ACL in football action has taken away his presence and experience in the defence.

“What a servant of Sleacht Néill and what a real good guy, it was a real cruel blow for him,” said manager McCormack. “He is taking a real proactive approach to it. He looks after himself impeccably anyway, that’s how he’s still playing.

“He’s started the rehab process now. He got an (operation) appointment booked. He’ll get through that and he’ll be back playing next year, no doubt.

“He’s a big miss because that gives us a bit less cover. He was playing on the first team all year.

“He proved last year, he came in to mark the big guy (James) Sweeney in the Sarsfields game.

“He’s done really well. It’s just that experience of winter hurling, that’ll be a miss for us.”

At the other end of the age scale, newcomer Coyle was a player McCormack converted from sub goalkeeper into a nailed-on centre-back last season but he is out of contention.

Coyle limped off after 24 minutes of their Derry semi-final win over Swatragh and hasn’t featured since.

“Conor Coyle is long-term injury as well,” McCormack said. “He had a bad hamstring tear.

“He is working away but there is not enough time. That’s the key in Conor’s case. He just hasn’t got enough time. The hamstring was just too severe.

“He’s fast, he just naturally has that speed and sometimes fast players pull hamstrings.”