By Michael McMullan

BALLINASCREEN have appointed a new senior football manager for the 2023 season.

Glenullin man Michael O’Kane has taken over from a duo of Mark McCullagh and Mickey Gallagher who stepped aside at the end of 2022 after one year in charge.

O’Kane has managed his native club in the past and has had stints with Tyrone side Naomh Eoghan and Portglenone in Antrim.

In his second term with Tír na nÓg in Randalstown he steered them to the Intermediate title in 2021.

His management team in Ballinascreen is set to be finalised over the weekend.

‘Screen were Ulster Senior League champions early last season and finished seventh in the Derry league before being knocked out of the championship in the first knock-out round by eventual winners Glen.

They were due to play Bellaghy in a championship relegation play-off which was shelved by Derry CCC after Ballinscreen and Coleraine made appeals to Ulster GAA on how the relegation process – towards a 12-team top flight for 2023 – was administered.

Derry CCC met clubs in recent weeks before emailing in search of proposals for what the 2023 league structures will look like.