AS we move closer to Christmas Day and the temperature is starting to fall, the average temperature is around ‘Two Degrees’……or so it was in Glenullin last Monday. Even though it’s 11 days since my own club’s victory in the Ulster Intermediate Championship final and I usually try to look forward in my columns, I […]
By Michael McMullan WHEN Benny Heron called time on his inter-county career two years ago, there was nobody better to ask for a line in tribute than Ciarán Meenagh. They taught together in St Colm’s Draperstown. Meenagh coached and managed him with both Ballinascreen and Derry. They’d chat football every day in the staffroom without […]
By Michael McMullan THE message coming from the Sleacht Néill camp is crystal clear ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final showdown with Loughrea. Winning a game at national level is all that matters. Pats on the back for creditable performances hold no value. None whatsoever. A sixth Ulster title was brilliant and cemented the […]
10 years ago… DAMIAN Barton’s first day in charge of Derry was one to forget as they were hammered by Tyrone, the Red Hands winning 1-18 to 0-10 in the O’Fiaich Cup semi-final in Crossmaglen. Patrick Quinn’s early goal gave Tyrone the perfect start and they were in control from start to finish. Ronan O’Neill […]
By Michael McMullan REWIND the clock 14 years. It’s summer in Clones. Eoin Bradley is hanging off the crossbar. His run and finish to the net, in a 1-5 tally, put the final nail in Armagh’s coffin. It was an Ulster semi-final and he was on fire but it was his last game at the iconic […]
By Michael McMullan HISTORY doesn’t kick the ball over the bar but it helps generate an image of what can be achieved as Cuchulainn’s prepare for this weekend’s Ulster Intermediate final against Glenullin. For 22-year-old captain Philip Smyth, he doesn’t need to look very far to find a line of symmetry between the current team […]
By Michael McMullan NOTHING is impossible until it’s done. It’s a simple observation but it sums up Mark McGuigan’s take on Sleacht Néill’s growth as they prepare for an 11th Ulster final on Saturday evening. The Emmet’s captain was in primary school when the club first inhaled the Ulster final experience. It was 2000. Sleacht […]
By Michael McMullan CATHAL Hasson feels Sunday’s Ulster Intermediate semi-final date with Monaghan’s Carrickmacross will be Glenullin’s toughest test of the season by a “long shot”. After winning a third Derry title in four years, Glenullin were comfortable winners over Moneyglass and Sarsfields. There was also the club’s recent gala to celebrate their 100th year anniversary. […]
By Michael McMullan KEEPING players injury free is the important factor for Derry, says defender Eoin McEvoy. The Rossa man also feels Derry are very close to the top teams if they can get a run with everyone on board. Speaking at last week’s Ulster University scholarship launch, he is positive about the county season […]
By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill are reigning Ulster champions and have landed a 13th successive Derry title but Paul McCormack’s eyes are wide open ahead of Sunday. The Emmet’s face Portaferry in a rematch of last year’s Ulster final. McCormack was present in Páirc Esler to run his eye over the four-in-a-row Down champions but […]
