By Michael McMullan DERRY take their 100 per cent record to Ennis this weekend as they bid for back-to-back promotions. Rory Gallagher’s side have conceded a mere 20 points across their wins over Down, Offaly and Cork to date, on the back of the best score difference across all four divisions. It’s the first meeting […]
By Michael McMullan TWO years ago, Derry travelled to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and found themselves 10 points down with less than 10 minutes to play. After they battled back to the relative comfort of a two-point defeat before the calendar was put on ice with the Covid-19 restrictions. Since then, Derry have been a different […]
THINGS went up a notch or two last weekend with the latest round of National Football League fixtures. The table is starting to take shape with a few teams lingering at the bottom who now seem to be in serious bother. More pressure was heaped on Dessie Farrell‘s Dublin team after suffering their third straight […]
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO Derry v Galway Sunday, Owenbeg, 1pm By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Rory Gallagher will be sweating over the availability of ace forward Shane McGuigan ahead of Sunday’s eagerly awaited visit of Galway to Owenbeg. McGuigan was handed a one-game suspension after being reported for a comment made in the aftermath […]
By Michael McMullan JUST before a quarter past six on Monday evening, Steelstown’s team bus swung around Ballyarnett roundabout. Their trophy-laden adventure was complete. Home was in sight. It’s a party zone inside. Bouncing. An extension of the magical Sunday night in Dublin’s Liffey Valley Hotel. No more were they the nearly men. Not by […]
Barry Gillis’ position sense was evident in his early years when he played on the same team as future soccer star Aaron Hughes. Then, former Derry manager Mickey Moran spotted how Gillis could add to his defensive plans and made a phone call that would change his career. Michael McMullan writes… IT COULD’VE ended up […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY could be without experienced trio Ciaran McFaul, Padraig Cassidy and Gareth McKinless for their opening game of the new season, manager Rory Gallagher has indicated. The Oakleafers host Monaghan on Friday (7.45) in the McKenna Cup at Owenbeg, a repeat of his first game in charge two seasons ago. McFaul picked […]
By Michael McMullan Oakleaf rising PADDY McBrearty may have ended Derry’s Anglo Celt hopes with a stoppage time sucker punch in Ballybofey, but it was another year of progress under Rory Gallagher. There was the return of Conor Glass to action and a more consistent look to the side, but the addition of Gareth McKinless […]
JOE Gray has added to his management team as he prepares for his fifth season as manager of his native Faughanvale. As player manager, he helped guide them to the 2015 junior title and promotion back to intermediate football and returned as manager at the start of the 2020 season. Gray will again have Simon […]
By Michael McMullan JANUARY means one thing to the hurlers of Sleacht Néill – it’s time to make the next step and book a first ever spot in an All-Ireland hurling final. Their win over Ballycran saw them take home a fourth Ulster title and with every foray onto the national stage, the Emmet’s have […]
