Derry club feel extra year of underage would help retention


By Michael McMullan A DERRY club feel the current odd underage format of u-13, u-15, u-17 and u-19 is “broken” and another year of underage, up to u-18, would help with player retention. There has been renewed debate surrounding the pros and cons of underage currently organised in odd (u-13, u-15, u-17 and u-19) categories […]


“Their success over the past 10 years speaks for itself”


Mairead McNicholl looks back at some of her opponents… Name: Mairead McNicholl. Age: 28. Teams played for: Swatragh, Derry, St Patrick’s College, Maghera and Queen’s University, Belfast. Advertisement Which opposition ground do you dislike going to and why? Any of the long bus journeys for county matches aren’t ideal. What team have you enjoyed the […]


GERARD O’KANE: Devlin’s presence is huge for Derry


By Gerard O’Kane IF only I had known then what I know now. That’s a saying widely used in many parts of life but in my last column where I talked of the changing landscape in Ulster for the forthcoming season, I was talking about the new appointments in Cavan and Donegal. Never in my […]


Jackman remains with Saffrons


By Michael McMullan FERMANAGH native Niall Jackman will remain in charge of Antrim’s u-20footballers for a third season. Jackman will be assisted by coaches Aaron Douglas, Matthew Gribbin, Sean McKenna, Stephen Bateson and Paddy Kelly. Marcus Graham will be in charge of Strength and Conditioning with Mark McAreavey (Performance Analyst) also on board. Advertisement It […]


‘I’d run out of the way if she hit a ball near me’


Derry’s Mairead McNicholl talks about her team-mates… Name: Mairead McNicholl. Age: 28. Teams played for: Swatragh, Derry, St Patrick’s College, Maghera and Queen’s University, Belfast. Advertisement Earliest GAA memory? Watching the Swatragh Senior Camogie team get to the All-Ireland final in 2000. Which team-mate has been the most inspirational and why? Janet McGuckin. She always […]


Meenagh joins Conor Laverty’s backroom team in Down


CIARÁN Meenagh has joined the backroom team of Conor Laverty’s Down Senior Footballers, it has emerged this evening. Meenagh had been involved with Derry since 2018, originally in a coaching capacity before stepping into the management position vacated by Rory Gallagher in the lead-in to this year’s Ulster final. Subsequent to their impressive showing against […]


Oakleaf Lions: A caring club for all


Tammy Cartin sends three of her children to the Oakleaf Lions, a GAA for All club based in Derry. She tells Michael McMullan their story of progress. IT’S Thursday afternoon. Tammy Cartin’s phone rings. She answers. As a mother of five, that time between school and dinner time vanished in a blink. Last Thursday had […]


Liam Hinphey tribute – The Biggest Show in Town


By Michael McMullan LIAM Hinphey packed plenty into a life with GAA around every corner. He passed away on Sunday at this home in Dungiven. Within hours, the town’s footballers stood side by side in tribute before their win over Lavey. For a man renowned for his love of hurling, he also played football with […]


KEVIN CASSIDY: Will Harte’s style of play suit the Oak Leafers?


There is one thing that I have noticed over the last 10 to 15 years and that is in GAA circles, allegiances mean very little. The GAA was rocked this week with the news that Mickey Harte would become the next Derry senior football team manager. I’m sure when considering who would become the next manager, […]


Harte will blot out any criticism says Donnelly


By Niall Gartland MICKEY Harte has been synonymous with Tyrone football for decades so this week’s news that he’s crossing the frontier into Derry has come as a considerable surprise to many in the GAA world. The appointment came very much out of the blue and prompted wholesale debate over the last few years – […]