WE are at the stage of the group stages of this year’s All-Ireland series and finally we should see some real championship matches this weekend. A lot has been said and written about the format of the championship this year. I do think that perhaps we might see some changes to this in the future […]
Match preview: Last-chance saloon for Derry
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June 13, 2024
All-Ireland SFC Derry v Westmeath Saturday, Páirc Esler. 7pm By Michael McMullan WOULD the real Derry please stand up? That’s the message that has been repeatedly dominating column inches, air waves and every conversation since Armagh beat them out the gate at Celtic Park two weeks ago. “We’re in a very bad place at the […]
JOE BROLLY: A toothpick to save penalties
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June 10, 2024
AFTER a lot of rumours had done the round this week that the players had ousted Mickey Harte, and that Enda Muldoon was taking over until the end of the season under the discreet supervision of Rory Gallagher, the Gaelic Life’s Niall McCoy brought the gossip to an end. Niall tweeted, “Mickey Harte remains Derry […]
Preview: Showdown in the city
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June 1, 2024
All-Ireland SFC Round Two Derry v Armagh Sunday, Celtic Park, 4pm By Michael McMullan SIX weeks feels like a lifetime in Derry. From league champions, a narrative now points towards their back-to-back defeats. That’s why Sunday’s visit of Armagh is huge. Speaking after their defeat in Galway, manager Mickey Harte felt it was a must […]
Derry team named for Armagh visit
May 30, 2024
By Michael McMullan DERRY have made two changes to their team for Sunday’s visit of Armagh to Celtic Park (4pm). Injured duo Conor Doherty and Eoin McEvoy have been listed to start ahead of Declan Cassidy and the suspended Gareth McKinless from the defeat to Galway. Emmett Bradley retains his place with Cormac Murphy also […]
Derry are a top three team says McGeeney
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May 30, 2024
By Shaun Casey DERRY are still among the main contenders for Sam Maguire says Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney, despite the Oakleaf County suffering back-to-back championship defeats to Donegal and Galway. Armagh make the journey to Celtic Park this weekend having recovered from their Ulster final defeat to Donegal as they bounced back with a five-point victory […]
STEVEN POACHER: Don’t pen the Oakleafers’ obituary
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May 28, 2024
LAST weekend Derry lost their second game in a row under new manager Mickey Harte, a situation Mickey has found himself in many of times in his managerial career. Back in 2008, Mickey left Páirc Esler having been beaten by Down and the obituaries were being scribed all across the country. Roll on a few […]
JOE BROLLY: Jimmy’s bursting bubbles
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May 25, 2024
THE night of the Ulster final, when they arrived home with the cup, Jimmy McGuinness stood in front of his players and addressed the huge crowd. “These next three games are massive for us. Really really big games. And we have got to put them front and centre. These players are a different animal now. […]
GERARD O’KANE: It’s crunch time
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May 24, 2024
MY last column opened with the lines “what a difference four weeks makes!” This was in reference to Derry losing to Donegal after beating Dublin in an exhilarating game four weeks previous to that. Derry had gone from such a high to a low in the space of four weeks that it led to wall-to-wall coverage. There […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: Ballybofey game will tell a tale about Tyrone
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May 23, 2024
AFTER a whirlwind Ulster Championship, we were straight back into action last weekend with the first round of the All-Ireland series and four games down for decision. Kerry ran out convincing winners against a disappointing Monaghan team who now find themselves with a real uphill battle to continue their progress in the competition. Vinny Corey […]