10 years ago THERE were a number of senior hurling finals down for decision a decade ago this week. Sleacht Néill were comfortable victors over Banagher in the Derry showdown while Ballygalget sank Portaferry in Down. In Donegal, meanwhile, MacCumhaill’s dethroned Burt. It was the semi-final juncture in Antrim with a composed Loughgiel pulling away […]
Shaun Casey looks at the hurling teams putting their titles on the line in the club championships Antrim: St John’s THE Johnnies got their hands on the Volunteer Cup for the first time since 1973 last season, with former player Gerard Cunningham leading his club to glory. They edged out Loughgiel in the final, with […]
THERE is magic in victory but there is just something about a pipe band at a homecoming that makes it all very official. I had goosebumps as I watched Mid West Radio’s footage of Sam Maguire being carried across the bridge and into Achill Island this week. The sound of pipes. The beating of drums in unison. […]
By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill are set to appoint Austin O’Malley as their new senior football manager, Gaelic Life understands. The former Mayo and Wicklow player steered Cuala to their first ever Dublin senior title in 2024 before adding Leinster and All-Ireland glory. O’Malley stepped down after three seasons that culminated their capture of club […]
By Michael McMullan A winless run AFTER the joy of back-to-back Ulster titles and landing a Division One league title, this season will always be remembered as one where Derry senior footballers failed to win a game. It resulted in relegation and a tame exit from the Ulster Championship. There were noted improvements by the end […]
By Michael McMullan THE message coming from the Sleacht Néill camp is crystal clear ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final showdown with Loughrea. Winning a game at national level is all that matters. Pats on the back for creditable performances hold no value. None whatsoever. A sixth Ulster title was brilliant and cemented the […]
By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill had just nine Derry titles to their name when Conor McAllister lined out against Lavey for his senior debut in 2016. Fast-forward to Saturday night’s triumph against St John’s in Armagh and he added a sixth Ulster medal to his 10 county titles. He acknowledges the perfect timing of a breakthrough. […]
The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship final between St John’s and Sleacht Néill is a novel pairing in one respect but it’s not the whole story. Mickey Johnston and Micky Glover recall the clubs’ crossing of paths on the way to Saturday. Michael McMullan writes…. MARRIAGE took Micky Glover from the shadow of Belfast’s Black Mountain […]
IT has all the makings of a brilliant Ulster final. Defending champions Sleacht Néill versus a St John’s team that has nothing to lose and everything to gain. I think it’s worked out well for St John’s so far. If they’d been paired with a Portaferry or Sleacht Néill in the semi-final, it may have come too […]
By Michael McMullan IT’S been a very different year for the hurlers of St John’s. Winning the Volunteer Cup for the first time is the crux of the story leading to Saturday’s Ulster Senior Championship final against Sleacht Néill. Below that, they’ve developed that important habit of winning important games when their hand of cards was plonked […]
