By Michael McMullan DERRY have named their side ahead of Sunday’s Christy Ring Cup final showdown with Kildare in Croke Park (2.15pm) Mark Craig and Niall Farren return from the side that saw off Sligo in their final game of the group stages. Swatragh duo James Friel and Sean Francis Quinn miss out, with the […]
Derry need more of the same to keep Croker hopes alive
By Michael McMullan BEATING London will be irrelevant if Derry don’t back it up in Saturday’s final Christy Ring Cup group game in Sligo, insists attacking ace Cormac O’Doherty. With the top two teams advancing to the final, a win for London at home to Kildare this weekend would mean a Derry victory makes it a […]
Ulster players named on Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Team of the Year
DERRY, Donegal and Monaghan have players selected on the Ring, Rackard, Meagher Champion 15. Meath, winners of the Christy Ring Cup lead the way with five players on board. The Derry hurlers’ fine Christy Ring Cup performances have yielded two awards in the shape of defender Riche Mullan and midfielder Cormac O’Doherty. Nicky Rackard runners-up […]
Confidence high in Antrim after Dublin draw
By Shaun Casey ANTRIM will take huge confidence from their Leinster opener as the travelling Dubs needed a last-gasp score from Cian O’Sullivan to pick up a share of the spoils. Both sides will have mixed emotions about this game. On one hand, both will feel they could have captured the two points on offer […]
Tyrone hurlers set to enter new territory
By Niall Gartland IT’S a measure of Tyrone’s progress under Michael McShane that they will field in the Christy Ring Cup for the first time in Sunday’s group stage opener against Derry, one of the traditional heavyweights of Ulster hurling. Last year’s Nickey Rackard Cup triumph was rewarded with promotion into the third-level competition at […]
Derry enter the last chance saloon
By Michael McMullan SUNDAY’S trip to Carlow is a must win game in Johnny McGarvey’s book. A draw would be enough if Kerry beat Down at home, but McGarvey isn’t dealing in the maybes as the Oakleafers aim to beat the drop straight back to Division 2B. Derry were without a point going into Sunday’s […]
Derry braced for crucial Ballycran battle
By Shaun Casey IT’S all on the line in Ballycran this weekend as Derry and Down battle it out for their first two points of the season. The two Ulster sides sit at the bottom of Division 2A, both on zero points after three games, so Sunday is a huge opportunity to get off the […]
Derry face into a rebuilding phase
By Michael McMullan DERRY hurlers begin a challenging Division 2A campaign at home to Kerry on Saturday (Celtic Park 2pm) without the spine of the team that gained promotion last season. Of the team that saw off Sligo in the promotion final, 14 of the 26 players listed in the programme are not part of […]
Champions’ depth a key to setting the benchmark
Ulster Club SHC final Sleacht Néill v Dunloy Sunday, Athletic Grounds, 1.30pm By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill put their Ulster title on the line on Sunday against a Dunloy team bidding for an eleventh provincial win and a first since 2009. It’s the fifth meeting of the clubs in championship hurling with the Antrim side’s […]
Bradley happy to be playing with a full deck
By Michael McMullan PAUL Bradley has a full panel to pick from for the first time in his three-year tenure as Sleacht Néill senior football manager. The Emmet’s take on Lavey in Sunday’s semi-final, a repeat of last year’s clash when extra-time was needed to qualify for the final. Defenders Karl McKaigue and Paul McNeill […]