Christy Ring Cup Round Two

Sligo v Derry

Sunday, Markievicz Park, 2pm

By Michael McMullan

GETTING back to Croke Park is the new focus for Derry as they take their winning start to Markievicz Park this weekend.

Defender Darragh McCloskey insists the Christy Ring Cup wasn’t even mentioned until they stepped past Sligo in the recent league final, but is expecting a different challenge this weekend.

“We have played them at home twice and at neutral venue, but never in Sligo,” said the Banagher man of their recent encounters.

“It could be a different kettle of fish. Every time we have played them in the last two years, we feel we are going well in the games, but they keep coming back and are a hard team to put them away,” McCloskey added.

Derry have beaten them three times in succession, with the u-20s – including current senior midfielder Darragh McGilligan – also victorious against the Yeats’ County on the way to last year’s All-Ireland B final. “We are playing them down in Sligo, so they could bring something different, especially after losing to London, so they’ll be fuming after that and dying to get a win so we know what will be coming at us.

“They come at you fast and a running team, they are different to a lot of the other teams and they keep you on your toes.”

Derry are looking to overcome Sligo for the fourth time in a row. In their first game, it was a third successive victory over Wicklow who had been somewhat of a bogey team for the Oakleafers.

“It was a good start and one of the things we said was that to beat a team three times in a row is never easy.

“It is a championship with group stages, but if you lose your first group game it puts you in serious bother if you are trying to get to where you want to go to and get to a final.”

McCloskey also feels that Banagher’s run to the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final helped his start to the inter-county season. Like the Sleacht Néill players have continued to experience, those extra months of hurling have kept his eye in.

“You weren’t stopping, you were feeling fresh. It helped my hurling and you are not spending the first few weeks getting your touch and striking right, so it was a matter of getting slotted back into the team again,” explain McCloskey, who doesn’t buy into any mental fatigue a prolonged club season can bring.

While he admits that a return to Croke Park and another shot at a first Christy Ring Cup is now in their sights, promotion was crucial as they take a look at what the 2023 season will look like.

“The difference in the standard of the two leagues (2A and 2B) is massive really and we’ve been close for a number of years.

“You saw Down getting to the final (of 2A), so you need to be playing at that level to be able to compete properly at that level.”