O’Doherty and Derry back challenging for an elusive first


Derry captain Cormac O’Doherty has played in three Christy Ring Cup final defeats but persistence takes him back to Croke Park on Saturday. Michael McMullan went to meet him… BETWEEN club, school and county, Cormac O’Doherty has stood in the firing line enough times to know the difference between winning and losing a crunch game […]


Derry face into crucial Wicklow clash to book final spot


By Niall Gartland CORMAC O’Doherty would dearly love to pocket a Christy Ring Cup medal this year– but the free-scoring Derry forward senses that won’t be happening unless they overcome Wicklow down in Celtic Park this Saturday afternoon. It’s their fifth and final group stage match and they sit second in the table, but O’Doherty expects that […]


Doran returns to Sleacht Néill


By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill have re-appointed Mark Doran as their senior football manager. Doran had initially stepped away after two seasons in charge but is back on board ahead of the 2025 campaign. The former Down player is currently coaching Roscommon who are pressing for promotion back to Division One. Advertisement He managed Ballybay […]


New Derry boss optimistic despite player losses


By Niall Gartland NEW Derry camogie manager Eamonn Melaugh tentatively his sights on reaching another Division 2A final even though there’s been a massive turnover in personnel during the off-season. Last September, PJ O’Mullan stepped down after two seasons at the helm of the Oakleafers, the highlight of which was their 2023 All-Ireland Intermediate triumph. […]


McKaigue hoping to fulfil MacRory dream


By Niall Gartland ST PATRICK’S, Maghera skipper Cahal McKaigue comes from good stock and his famous cousin Chrissy is part of the management team who have engineered their run to Sunday’s MacRory Cup final against Abbey VS. He’s very much the Sleacht Néill prototype – a talented footballer and hurler and already he has graduated to […]


Cassidy the latest GAA player aiming for a NFL career


By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill dual player Jack Cassidy is the latest Irish player aiming for a career in American Football. Cassidy plays in goals in football and had a spell in the Derry squad under Mickey Harte last season. A freetaker as an outfield player in his underage days, he was drafted into the […]


JOHNNY McINTOSH: No distractions for Sleacht Néill


ON the four previous occasions that Sleacht Néill have reached the All-Ireland semi-finals, they’ve always given a really, really good account of themselves. They’ve never been overly lucky with the draw they’ve got. To me, the big thing about this game against Sarsfields is that historically, first time Munster winners tend to just be content […]


Sleacht Néill’s latest All-Ireland adventure


By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill hurlers face into the club’s fifth All-Ireland semi-final bidding to smash the glass ceiling to book a first ever appearance in the showpiece. After winning a fifth Ulster Championship – on the back of a 12th successive Derry title – they take on Sarsfields of Cork on Sunday. Their semi-final […]


Sleacht Néill hoping to draw on past All-Ireland experience


By Michael McMullan ULSTER champions Sleacht Néill are “under no illusions” about the battle they’ll face in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final but are tapping into the experience of their four forays into the national stage. Sleacht Néill take on Munster champions Sarsfields on Sunday bidding to book a first ever hurling final showdown. After a […]


Sleacht Néill are taking adifferent aim


BY Michael McMullan CORMAC O’Doherty has been around enough corners to know that Sleacht Néill must have their eyes peeled with Portaferry coming down the tracks this week. While they’ve dominated the Derry scene for 12 seasons, they’ve just over a 50 per cent hit rate from their Ulster final appearances. Ballycran gave them a lesson […]