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
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
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
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 […]
McGarvey proud Derry despite devastating defeat
June 2, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey was proud of this side despite Saturday’s gut-wrenching defeat in their Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park. Playing in their fourth final in five years, Derry were left chasing a slick and efficient London team who controlled the breaking ball on their way to an early 0-4 […]
Derry unchanged ahead to Saturday’s Croke Park showdown
May 30, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY have named their team for Saturday evening’s Christy Ring Cup final against London in Croke Park (5pm). It’s an unchanged team since their win over Wicklow booked Saturday’s spot at HQ. Derry are in their fourth final in five years and their fifth in all, hoping this is the year they […]
Cassidy delighted to get another ‘crack at Croke Park’
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
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 […]
McGarvey’s eyes fixed on another Royal Rumble
April 25, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY have won their last four games but manager Johnny McGarvey only has Meath in his sights ahead of Saturday’s Christy Ring Cup clash at Celtic Park. The Oakleafers came from behind to beat London on Sunday in Ruislip thanks to two goals from Cormac O’Doherty. “To be fair for 45 minutes […]
McGarvey full aware of London challenge in top of the table clash
April 19, 2025
By Michael McMullan IF going to the well two years ago isn’t enough of a reminder of what Derry will face when they take on London this weekend, then their result against Meath last weekend focuses the mind. Johnny McGarvey’s side travel to Ruislip on the back of their win over Donegal last weekend. They were […]