By Michael McMullan

DERRY  are set to ratify former Lavey manager Johnny McGarvey as their new senior hurling manager at their January meeting ahead of the 2023 season.

McGarvey confirmed to Gaelic Life that selector Conor Murray, a former Ulster winning captain, has remained from the outgoing management team.

Oisin Quinn has been retained to look after the strength and conditioning and the new boss is set to finalise his management team in coming weeks.

McGarvey, who managed Rasharkin to last year’s Antrim Junior final, takes over from outgoing manager Dominic McKinley and Cormac Donnelly.

The Antrim duo were at the helm for Derry’s promotion from Division 2B last season.

McGarvey was in charge of Lavey for eight seasons before stepping down at the end of the 2021 season.

It was understood McKinley and Donnelly – appointed in December 2021 – were set to stay for a third season, but a statement on the Derry GAA website reports they had previously indicated that they were stepping down ahead of the 2023 season.

“Derry GAA would like to sincerely thank Dominic McKinley, Cormac Donnelly and their management team for their efforts over the past two years, which saw Derry seniors hurlers promoted to Division 2A of the Allianz NHL and qualify for the Christy Ring Cup final in 2021,” read the statement.

Derry open their campaign at home to last year’s beaten Joe McDonagh Cup finalists Kerry on Saturday, February 4.

The Oakleafers are in a group that also contains Offaly, Kildare, Down and Carlow.