By Michael McMullan A DISAPPOINTED Derry manager Paddy Tally rued their missed goal chances as Ethan Rafferty closed the door on their comeback on Saturday night. Armagh led by three points at half time before hitting the first four points of the second half to get control of the All-Ireland opener. Goals from Barry McCambridge […]
Tally hoping for an upturn after seven-week layoff
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May 23, 2025
By Michael McMullan THERE are two halves to Paddy Tally’s tenure as Derry manager to date. Before Ballybofey and after Ballybofey. As the Oakleafers prepare to step into the lion’s den against All-Ireland champions Armagh, in their own patch, the Derry boss has had time to take stock. An eleventh-hour replacement for Mickey Harte was […]
Tally expecting a battle to emerge from group of death
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May 19, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY are under no illusions with the task facing them when they begin their All-Ireland campaign this weekend. Manager Paddy Tally said being paired with Armagh, Galway and Dublin zoned them in right away. “It’s a tough group,” said Tally, referencing to the only group with all four teams having played in […]
GERARD O’KANE: Don’t discount the lower seeds
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May 1, 2025
SO the Ulster final pairing has been decided and we will see most people’s two best teams in Ulster face off in Clones in nine days’ time. On the same weekend we will also see the novel pairing of Meath and Louth hit it off in the Leinster final. The word novel is not directed […]
GERARD O’KANE: Panel depth – A defining difference
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April 11, 2025
WHEN Jim McGuinness was with Donegal in his first tenure they placed a lot of stock on the third quarter of games. They would have come out of the blocks all guns blazing at the start of the second half and gave everything they had. Suddenly they had scored maybe 1-4 or 1-5 on the […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: Decision time for Derry
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April 10, 2025
THE championship got up and running last weekend and, if I’m being 100 per cent honest, I think it was a step below what we saw in the National League as opposed to what we all expect with the championship. Obviously, the main focus was on the Donegal and Derry game. Perhaps that lack of […]
Tally picking through the rubble of ill-fated league campaign
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April 4, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY are trying to “piece” themselves together as they prepare for this weekend’s championship opener against Donegal in Ballybofey. That was the take of manager Paddy Tally as he picked through a “very mixed” league campaign that resulted in relegation from Division One. Derry managed just a draw with Galway from their […]
Paddy Tally names his Derry side for Ulster clash with Donegal
April 3, 2025
By Michael McMullan PADDY Tally has named his Derry team for Sunday’s Ulster Championship clash with Donegal on Sunday in Ballybofey (2pm). Goalkeeper Néill McNicholl, Martin Bradley and Dan Higgins are in line to make their championship debuts against the reigning champions. There are 12 of the team that played against Donegal in the league […]
PREVIEW: More questions than answers for Derry
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April 3, 2025
By Michael McMullan WHAT a difference a year can make. Derry were league champions 12 months ago and deep in the Sam Maguire conversation. Then everything came crashing down. Jim McGuiness masterminded a Celtic Park championship ambush. Goals and goals and goals. When Armagh arrived in the Maiden City in the All-Ireland group stages, it […]
Derry’s injury woes continue
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March 24, 2025
By Michael McMullan DERRY’S Ulster Championship preparations have been dealt another blow with an injury to midfielder Anton Tohill. Manager Paddy Tally confirmed the Swatragh man sustained a broken hand in Sunday’s defeat to Armagh. Magherafelt’s Conor McCluskey is also out “long-term” with goalkeeper Odhrán Lynch also unlikely to feature in Ballybofey. Advertisement The news […]