By Niall Gartland CORMAC O’Doherty had the honour of accepting the Christy Ring Cup on a Saturday afternoon that will go down in the annals of Derry hurling, but he knows as well as anyone that it wasn’t exactly plain-sailing to get to that point. The Derry captain was involved in four previous defeats on […]
Derry hurling manager McGarvey savours special day
Premium
June 3, 2026
By Niall Gartland SOMETIMES there is no dream ending. Sometimes there’s just a sequence of hard-luck stories and a profound sense of incompleteness. But happily for Derry hurlers and their manager Johnny McGarvey, redemption finally arrived on a historic day at Croke Park. Having lost five previous Christy Ring Cup finals – including successive defeats […]
Our league starts now says Derry hurling boss McGarvey
Premium
February 5, 2026
By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey says his side’s Division Two campaign effectively begins on Saturday. The Oakleafers welcome Mayo to the recently renamed Find Insurance Celtic Park with both teams bidding for a first win. After suffering a heavy defeat in the first weekend of the season against Kerry, Derry then gave a […]
Derry’s Foley looking ahead to visit of the Kingdom
Premium
January 22, 2026
By Michael McMullan AFTER winning the Conor McGurk Cup last weekend, Derry eyes are firmly fixed on Saturday’s visit of Kerry to Celtic Park as Division Two swings into gear. Deaglan Foley hit two vital points against Donegal as Derry’s comeback headed towards a finish before Christy McNaughton’s winning goal. Joint-captains Foley and Ryan Magill lifted […]
Cassidy delighted to get another ‘crack at Croke Park’
Premium
May 22, 2025
By Michael McMullan SEAN Cassidy has hurled for Derry long enough to know when they’ve been on the money and Saturday was one of those days. The Sleacht Néill defender (pictured) ranks their 2-30 to 1-13 win over Wicklow as one of their best of the season. The timing of it was perfect. After losing […]
Derry eyes now locked in on Tyrone test
Premium
May 8, 2025
By Michael McMullan THE Derry message is simple this week. After losing to Meath, they are pouring their Christy Ring hopes into Dungannon on Saturday and their clash with Tyrone. The Oakleafers needed every sinew when they dug out a victory over Tyrone in the first game of the league. For manager Johnny McGarvey, his […]
Derry boss calling for more of the same against Donegal
Premium
March 20, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey is under no illusions about the task facing his side against Donegal on Saturday. A win will keep Derry in Division Two and the Oakleafers’ boss stresses the level his team must perform at. After losing three games, their win over Meath was a boost but the performance […]
Derry hurlers must regroup ahead of Kingdom trip
Premium
February 6, 2025
By Michael McMullan AS weeks go, this will be as tough as it gets in the Derry hurling camp. Out of the frying pan and into the fire as the Oaks prepare to face Kerry on Sunday in Tralee. Manager Johnny McGarvey didn’t mince his words after their 19-point defeat at home to Down. It […]
Cleary has clear vision of Derry’s task
Premium
May 9, 2024
By Michael McMullan SATURDAY’S visit of London to Owenbeg is essentially an All-Ireland semi-final, insists Paul Cleary. There are two rounds of the Christy Ring group format to go but defeat in Kildare has left Derry at jeopardy’s door this weekend. Speaking after their win over Tyrone, Derry boss Johnny McGarvey felt two teams from […]
Oak Leaf hurler’s title hopes set for acid test
Premium
April 25, 2024
By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey said his side will face the “acid test” on Saturday with a trip to fellow Christy Ring Cup contenders Kildare. A glance at the table suggests that two from Derry, London and Kildare – all on four points – will advance to the final. After this weekend, Derry […]