By Niall Gartland

DERRY minor coach Aidan McLaughlin believes that this year’s Ulster Championship is wide open with a host of teams harbouring justified ambitions of going all the way.

The Oak Leafers did well in the Minor League, though they did fall short in the Shield final against Cavan, and have earned themselves through the seeding system a home tie against either Down or Fermanagh this Saturday.

They’ll want to get off to a winning start even with the safety net of a backdoor, and Castledawson clubman McLaughlin says they’re pouring all their energies into the game.

“We’ve been very happy with how the year has gone so far. We used the league to get a really good look at the panel.

“It’s been very busy with MacRory football, Oisín McGrath football, and hurling, so we’ve had a great opportunity to assess the whole squad throughout the league. Schools football finished up last week, there’s been brilliant success along the way, and now it’s about knuckling down for Down.”

Reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone were pitted against Monaghan in the Ulster Minor League final, with the Farney recording a deserved 2-16 to 2-14 victory.

On paper they’re the obvious candidates for success in the championship season, but McLaughlin doesn’t believe they’re streets ahead of the chasing pack.

“Across all nine counties, it looks like it’s going to be a really close championship.

“There’s no real standout team, and a lot of sides will fancy their chances when you look at the results.

“I really think anything could happen in Ulster. Monaghan had a very good win, but it was no surprise –we were down in Corduff a few weeks ago and saw how strong they are.

“We played Antrim, a really tough game, and Armagh in Crossmaglen, another very tough match. If you look at the results in the other group as well, it just shows how competitive it is.

“The aim now is simply to get over Down or Fermanagh and then see what happens.”

This isn’t McLaughlin’s first rodeo. He has been involved with a number of Derry minor teams in the past, including the All-Ireland winning side of 2021.

“I was involved in 2018 and 2019, then through COVID, and now again this season.

“In 2018, we lost an Ulster final to Banty McEnaney’s Monaghan. Then we went on to win an All-Ireland in 2021.

“I was part of Marty Boyle’s management team and the team included the likes of Lachlan Murray, Matthew Downey, Patrick McGurk, Eoin McEvoy, Dan Higgins, and plenty of others who have since successfully stepped up to the senior squad.”