By Michael McMullan

THE last four Derry years have been the ultimate mixed bag. The ups of back-to-back Ulster titles was followed by two seasons of wandering around in the dark.

Changes in management. Defeat. Relegation. Negativity. While there were shoots of hope at the end of 2025, it was a winless season.

This year has been a mixed bag too but there have been more ups than downs.

Meath’s level of consistency now puts Derry’s defeat to the Royals in perspective.

The win over Tyrone was absolutely massive. The sense of pressure in the Oakleaf County was only matched by the level of relief in victory.

There was that night in Newbridge when Derry’s 12 apostles hung tough long enough for a victory to be dug out.

Hammering Cork was followed by being closed out in Ardee. The Cavan performance was underwhelming but without Tyrone beating Cork, it was irrelevant.

Combined with Donegal’s hammering of Kerry in the league final, Derry are back in the championship outer limits.

Their championship draw is favourable. Tyrone, Armagh and Donegal are all on the other side.

Derry are red-hot favourites to beat Antrim. Cavan or Monaghan will thicken up the soup when taking a wider look but Ulster final day in Clones is a real possibility.

Number one

With Odhrán Lynch still out injured, his clubmate Shea McGuckin looks set to make his championship debut ahead of Ryan Scullion.

In defence, Ruairi Forbes has played every league game. With Eoin McEvoy and Conor McCluskey to return, it will leave defenders looking over their shoulder.

Brendan Rogers has spent time in defence, brought back to pick up Patrick Lynch against Cavan. Gareth McKinless has rotated between centre and corner-back, depending on where the greatest danger lay.

Dan Higgins is heading into his second championship season and provides size needed to combat the battle the 40-metre kick-out arc throws up.

In attack, Shane McGuigan still leads the scoring charts but there has been more support.

Balance in attack

Lachlan Murray’s directness combines to make the perfect duo. That’s before you add in the form of Niall Loughlin. The Greenlough man has been immense, picking passes, kicking points and working like a dog.

Paul Cassidy has been a two-point threat but his pace has been causing teams problems. Ethan Doherty continues to be the man that creates overlaps.

The fact Gavin Devlin always had at least two red jerseys in his path was central to decommissioning Derry in Ardee. It also highlight’s Doherty’s value contribution to the backdoor cut.

Conor Doherty and McEvoy sat out Derry’s win over Cavan, giving them a greater chance of being bang on when the championship bandwagon kicks into gear.

Developing a panel has been an important line when there has been any narrative rolled in in the Derry debate. That’s why Conor McAteer, Jack and Mark Doherty stepping away during the league was a collective disappointment.

Four of the current u-20 squad are already on the senior radar, including James Sargent who is on his way back from a cruciate injury.

Conall Higgins has form from the Sigerson Cup that could help him bed into life at senior level now. Tommy Rogers has the frame that could see him blossom like his cousin Brendan.

That’s more about the long-term look. In the short-term, Derry’s focus will be on Antrim. They are favourites but Meenagh played the Ardee card within minutes of the league being over.

Louth had injuries. Derry were rampant against Cork. They’d turned the corner. Derry were off it. Louth were ravenous. There was only one winner. Meenagh’s mental side of the focus in the coming days will be important. Derry need to be at the right temperature for an Ulster final spot to come into view. Antrim are coming with a free shot.

DERRY

Roll of honour: 9 (1958, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1987,1993, 1998, 2022, 2023)

Memorable Ulster Championship match:

Ulster Championship final 2022
Derry 1-16 Donegal 1-14 (AET)
Sunday May 29, 2022

AS Derry chase another Ulster final appearance, the memories of their 2022 breakthrough will come flooding back. A summer when the county stepped into the footballing conversation again.

For those on the outside, the entertainment value would’ve been zero. For Derry, that didn’t matter one iota. When you haven’t won, finding a way to win isn’t the important thing. It’s the only thing.

Brendan Rogers and Conor Glass were incessant in their running, especially after Niall Loughlin’s goal was cancelled out by Odhrán McFadden-Ferry finding the net after half-time.

On a day when Rogers’ GPS unit registered 17km, there was no stopping him. And there was no stopping Derry.

Wild card: Ruairi Forbes

RUAIRI Forbes started every game for Derry in the league having got a taste of life at senior inter-county level last year with championship cameos. With Eoin McEvoy and Conor McCluskey on their way back from injury, there is genuine competition for a place in the Derry defence. New goalkeeper Shea McGuckin will more than likely be handed his championship debut against Antrim. The question in Derry is who makes way in the defence? Forbes has shown his value by how he ferries the ball out from the back. This could well be his breakthrough summer.

Captain: Conor Glass

THE Derry skipper played last year’s opener in Ballybofey with a broken bone in his hand. Paddy Tally was decimated with injuries but Glass wasn’t going to watch from outside the white lines. While everyone in the country watches Glass through the prism of kicking points or catching kick-outs, it’s what he does away from the glare that stands him apart. It’s his ability to funnel back and sense danger that brings the most value. That’s why Ciaran McFaul was able to play as an attacking number six for Glen. Glass chips in with scores too but he is a natural number six. He allows everyone else to flutter their wings before fluttering his own.

Manager: Ciarán Meenagh

WHEN Damian McErlain started to dig Derry out of Division Four at the start of the 2019 season, Ciarán Meenagh’s spade was a welcome tool. Rory Gallagher knew that too when assembling the management team that helped deliver back-to-back Ulster titles. Conor Laverty knew his value too, taking him into the Down inner circle. Now he is back with Derry and surrounded with men he can trust and has worked with before. The players wanted him. He fits. His mantra fits too, not getting too high with the highs or low with the lows. He has the safe hands they needed to step out of a winless 2025.