By Michael McMullan

SLEACHT Néill goalkeeper Oisin O’Doherty feels their win over Banagher in the group stages was a “false” reading of the team they will meet this weekend.

The Emmet’s go in search of a 12th successive Derry hurling title on Sunday at Owenbeg with Banagher standing in their way of keeping the Fr Collins Cup for another season.

“I knew myself, whenever Banagher lined out, they were missing Niall Farren, Ciaran Lynch and Oisin McCloskey only came on,” said O’Doherty, now in his 16th season of senior hurling. “They took off Calum O’Kane early on in the second half. (Banagher manager) Brian McGilligan knew what he was doing. He was trying things out.

“He’s tried Darragh McCloskey at half-forward. The team that played us in Owenbeg six or eight weeks ago is going to be different.

“If they watch what Kevin Lynch’s did in the semi-final in terms of coming with that sheer aggression and work-rate, it put us under severe pressure.

“There’s a lot of people talking about it being a foregone conclusion but in our eyes there’s never in a game a foregone conclusion because we can see what teams can do whenever they work hard.”

For all of the years of hurling, it’s the buzz of running out on championship Sunday’s that floats his boat. The bigger the game the bigger the buzz. But it’s about keeping the focus that counts.

“That’s what you train for all year,” O’Doherty said of the motivation.

“There are 35 to 40 of our lads on the pitch for football and hurling training. They don’t go up there not be seen. You’ve perfected the skills at training.

“If you treat it (a championship game) any differently, you’re going to be found wanting because you’re going to be nervous and mistakes will start to creep in.

“If you just let it get on top of you, the games become more pressurised and it’s not as enjoyable.”

New manager Paul McCormack has had to plan without Chrissy and Karl McKaigue who’ve opted out of the wee ball game this season.

They saw off Kevin Lynch’s in the semi-final without ace forward Cormac O’Doherty. It has been their production line that has fed new players year on year to the senior ranks.

“Fionn (McEldowney) has come in, Cahal McKaigue’s pushing for a place,” O’Doherty said of their newcomers.

“Conor Coyle, who was sub-keeper last year, has now cemented a place at number six and is every bit of a senior hurler all year in the league and has continued his form on the championship.

“The underage production line in our club is great. There are two or three young boys now into the hurling team, there’s two or three in the football team.

“I’m pushing into my early 30s now. To be seeing those young boys coming in, it’s a breath of fresh air for me, seeing the energy they bring to the whole thing.”

O’Doherty made his debut as a 16-year-old in 2009 alongside Declan Cassidy and Colin McEldowney, fathers of his teammates now.

Sleacht Néill lost to Kevin Lynch’s in a final replay and it was 2013 before he picked up his first medal. It has turned full circle now, as he is the experienced head helping the newcomers bed in.

“I remember now, looking back, I started playing with big Dec (Cassidy) at full-back in front of me,” O’Doherty recalls.

“His sons Jack and Barney, are both on the senior panel. Jack’s made a massive impression in their team and Barney’s just building his way into it as well.

“I’m playing with Fionn (McEldowney) too so either I’m very old or I started off very young…one of the two.”

KEEPING IT LIT…Oisin O’Doherty is bidding for a 12th Derry hurling title on the bounce