By Niall Gartland PADRAIG McGrogan will kick every ball as Newbridge take to the provincial stage in Sunday’s Ulster Senior Championship quarter-final clash against Clann Éireann. McGrogan was forced to sit out his club’s surge to a first Derry Senior Championship title in a full three-and-half decades, culminating in the dethroning of All-Ireland kingpins Glen […]
WHEN my Gaoth Dobhair team were fortunate enough to be still in competition at this time of year, we used to love these few months. There is something special about still training this time of year, because that means that you are on the verge of doing something extraordinary. Most county finals are played at this […]
By Niall Gartland A MAGICAL moment captured for posterity. Conor McGrogan sank to his knees and embraced Mark and Conleith, also of the McGrogan stable, at the final whistle of a long-awaited Derry Senior Championship triumph for Newbridge. Not only had the O’Leary’s clinched their first senior title in 35 years, but they’d done so […]
Lawrence Walls played senior football for Newbridge across four decades. His nephew Declan McKeever is the oldest player on the current squad. Both men are buzzing. Michael McMullan went to meet them. A WAIT of 33 years is down to just nine days. If at all possible, football talk is even more dominant around […]
By Michael McMullan SHANE McGrogan’s winning goal booked Newbridge’s place in a first county final in 33 years and ended two years of hurt. When Conor Doherty’s point attempt dropped shot, McGrogan flicked to the net to sink Magherafelt in Saturday’s drab semi-final. It was a third semi-final in as many seasons for Newbridge. They […]
By Michael McMullan MAGHERAFELT will be boosted by the return of Derry defender Eoin McEvoy for Saturday’s Derry SFC semi-final showdown with Newbridge. McEvoy, a nominee for Young Player of the Year, missed Sunday’s win over Dungiven due to his AFL trials down under. Magherafelt were 2-6 to 0-7 winners thanks to goals from Declan […]
By Michael McMullan THE 12 teams still in the hunt to get their hands on the John McLaughlin Cup will be shaved back this weekend with the penultimate round of group games in the Derry Senior Football Championship. Sleacht Néill and Newbridge have won all three games to date inflicting the only defeats on All-Ireland […]
James Sargent and Eamon Young were named on the Electric Ireland minor football team of the year after helping Derry win a second successive All-Ireland. They told Michael McMullan about the journey JAMES Sargent and Eamon Young were born to play. You can tell by how natural they are on the ball and the ease […]
By Michael McMullan SATURDAY’S top of the table clash with Magherafelt will be an indicator of where his side sit in the Derry SFC pecking order insists Newbridge joint manager Gary Hetherington. The ‘Bridge backed up their narrow win over Lavey with a more convincing victory over Loup. Next up is a rematch of last […]
By Michael McMullan IT was irrelevant who Magherafelt got in the Derry SFC semi-final draw insists Brian McGuckin, and he expects a “huge battle” with Newbridge on Saturday (Owenbeg, 5.45pm). McGuckin and Damian Barton are in their second year in charge of Magherafelt with Kilcoo’s All-Ireland winning coach Richard Thornton coming on board this season. […]
