By Michael McMullan

DERRY have appointed James McGurk as their new senior ladies football manager, Gaelic Life can confirm.

The Steelstown clubman takes over from Odhran McNeilly who stepped down mid-season with outgoing minor manager Paul Simpson stepping in for the remainder of 2022.

Derry LGFA confirmed that McGurk was ratified, on a rolling year to year arrangement, at Tuesday’s meeting of Derry LGFA with his backroom yet be finalised.

He will face into the 2023 season in Division Four of the NFL. Derry have had underage success at various levels in recent season, but await their first All-Ireland Junior title having won the Ulster Junior Championship in 2018 under manager Paul Crozier.

McGurk was involved with Steelstown’s senior success this season. The Brian Ógs will face Glenravel on Sunday in the Ulster Intermediate Championship and will be hoping to go one better than last year’s final defeat at the hands of Kinawley.

Intermediate champions Ballerin will face Derrynoose on Saturday week (October 22) in the Ulster Junior Championship after backing up their 2021 junior success with progress at intermediate level.