1 The climb and the fall

WITH Mickey Harte in the hotseat , Derry hit the ground running. The Dr McKenna Cup was retained before they went all in with team selection with the Glen players.

A league campaign led to Croke Park and a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Dublin in the final before the Oaks left with the title.

Then it all came crumbling down. Hammerings to Donegal and Armagh left everyone in the county clutching at straws. Kerry put an end to the season before Harte stepped down.

This was followed by a four-month search for a new manager that must’ve had speculation linking over 20 names to the job.

Where were Derry going? Nobody knew. Then they landed on their feet with the appointment of Paddy Tally.

As he puts the pieces together, he won’t be able to call on Chrissy McKaigue after the former skipper called on his county career.

2 Kings of Ireland

CONOR Glass led Glen over the final step of their journey to the steps of the Hogan Stand to become the fourth Derry club to be crowned All-Ireland champions.

After a third Derry title and retaining their Ulster silver, they saw enough through the fog to turn the tables on Kilmacud Crokes.

They returned to All-Ireland final day as hot favourites only to be outplayed by St Brigid’s.

Eunan Mulholland and Jack Doherty were injured.

Cathal Mulholland picked up a black card and Connor Carville hobbled off.

They needed a spark. One part was Ryan Dougan’s putting the clampers on Ben O’Carroll. Another was a monster Michael Warnock point.

But their win was all about Conor Glass. He played like a man refusing to go up with road without the Andy Merrigan Cup. They didn’t.

3 Back to the top

AFTER two years of nothing in Ulster, Sleacht Néill hurlers were back at the top of the tree. And they did it after tearing the supporters’ stomachs in knots.

Dunloy and Cushendall were deserving winners in the previous seasons. After not breaking much delph in the Derry championship, they lit up the Ulster scene.

In what can only be described as a blockbuster, they tore into Cushendall with skill, panache and electricity.

Their hurling was matched by Neil McManus almost pulling the ‘Dall over the line before Sleacht Néill changed gear in extra-time.

The final with Portaferry was a different story.

The Derry champions were all at sea against a more dominant opponent until goals from Sé McGuigan and Shéa Cassidy paved a way to victory.

Both games were live on TV and were brilliant adverts for hurling.

4 They did it again

AFTER winning the minor All-Ireland in 2023, Derry only just went and won it again this year.

With a host of key players back on board, including captain James Sargent, they were favourites before a ball was kicked.

They won the league this time and retained the Ulster title but it was the drama of the All-Ireland series that made the difference.

They needed two bites at Dublin across their quarter final before pulling clear.

In the semi-final against Kerry, they were put to the absolute pin of their collar after missing a host of goal chances before coming out on top.

It was an All-Ireland final against Armagh and Derry answered all the questions before taking the Tom Markham Cup home.

Manager Damian McErlain has since stepped up the u-20 post and that’s where Derry’s challenge now rests. The county has failed to tie minor success into sustained senior progress.

5 ‘Bridging the gap

AFTER 35 years, Newbridge were top dogs in Derry again after winning the Senior Football Championship.

And they did it the hard way. They needed to hang tough in a quarter-final with Bellaghy that needed extra-time.

In a tactical arm wrestle, they clawed their way back against Magherafelt before Shane McGrogan’s goal sent them to a county final against Glen.

They didn’t blink on county final day. After dominating the game, a Ryan Dougan goal nearly spoiled their party until Ciaran Brooks popped up as unlikely scorer of the winning point. And they were crowned champions without key man Paudi McGrogan.

Ballinderry bounced back from relegation to win the intermediate championship but the other big story was in the camogie championship where Swatragh beat Sleacht Néill in the final to win a first title since 2005. Winning both the u-16 and u-18 titles are a bonus as the ‘Swa embark on a new season.