By Niall Gartland IF there’s a man with his finger on the pulse of the happenings in two competing counties, it’s Ciarán Meenagh. Meenagh is steeped in all things Loughmacrory and helped lead his native club to a historic first-ever Tyrone Senior Championship last season. Their road to the top was no overnight success, and […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY selector Chrissy McKaigue says beating Cork is a necessity in Sunday’s top-of-the-table Division Two clash. Having already lost to Meath, the Oakleafers must continue their winning form as they target promotion with the Royals now having the ‘head-to-head’ advantage should it come into consideration. McKaigue played for Derry in 2022 when […]
Michael McMullan takes a look ahead to Derry’s new season and the importance of getting back to winning ways PICTURE the scene. Ulster final day 2022. St Tiernach’s Park. Chrissy McKaigue was about to lift the Anglo Celt Cup. The game’s ebbing through the wringer of extra-time poured petrol on a 24-year-old Derry fire of […]
By Michael McMullan ST Patrick’s Maghera selector Chrissy McKaigue hailed the level of workrate and the humility within the group after securing the school’s sixth Hogan Cup. The former Derry defender was also content they’d “balanced the books” with six titles from their 12 appearances. Losing six finals wasn’t a great record. Their mentality was […]
Hogan Cup final St Patrick’s, Maghera v St Colman’s, Claremorris Monday, Croke Park, 1pm By Michael McMullan THE Hogan Cup has resided in Ulster for half of the last decade and St Patrick’s, Maghera will hope to maintain that recent trend on Monday. The MacRory champions lock horns with St Colman’s, Claremorris as the curtain […]
By Michael McMullan THERE was one Donegal man content with Sunday’s MacRory final result – St Patrick’s, Maghera joint-manager Willie McAteer. A talented Abbey side were the county’s first team in the final since 1961 but McAteer, born and bred in Fanad, is very much part of the furniture in Derry. Youth officer in Castledawson, he […]
By Michael McMullan SEAN Marty Lockhart hailed the St Patrick’s Maghera grit and spirit after Sunday’s MacRory Cup victory. Including their shared title with St Colman’s in 2020, it was the 17th success and Joint Manager Lockhart – their winning captain 30 years ago – couldn’t find the words to describe the feeling. “Maghera just […]
I HAVE been asked numerous times over the last few weeks about my thoughts on the new Derry management team headed by Paddy Tally. I’ll lay my cards on the table. From the apparent position where Derry were when they seemed to be struggling to fill the post, and with talk in national media of […]
IT’S been some two weeks for inter-county retirements with the news breaking this week that Derry’s Chrissy McKaigue and Dublin’s Brian Fenton were calling it a day. Let’s start with McKaigue and what a servant he has been to club and county over the last number of years. He has witnessed some dark days in […]
By Michael McMullan NEW Derry manager Paddy Tally will pencil in rest for whoever needs it and says a strong link across the u-17 and u-20 grades is essential to long-term progress. He points out the difference in conditioning levels between a player coming in from the u-20 grade to a seasoned player with a […]
