By Michael McMullan NIALL Conway had a hunch Swatragh’s Derry Senior Football Championship progress could go all the way to Sunday’s final group game against Bellaghy. The Davitt’s need a draw to join Glen, Sleacht Néill and Dungiven in the quarter-finals whereas Bellaghy need to win. It all points to the first real ‘championship’ game […]
By Michael McMullan FOR the second year in a row, Cathal Mulholland kicked home a county final goal as Glen kept their hands on the John McLaughlin Cup, clinching three-in-a-row. Three points from younger brother Eunan, named as Man of the Match, helped Glen reel Magherafelt back in from their 0-5 to 0-2 lead. The […]
By Michael McMullan IT was irrelevant who Magherafelt got in the Derry SFC semi-final draw insists Brian McGuckin, and he expects a “huge battle” with Newbridge on Saturday (Owenbeg, 5.45pm). McGuckin and Damian Barton are in their second year in charge of Magherafelt with Kilcoo’s All-Ireland winning coach Richard Thornton coming on board this season. […]
By Michael McMullan WHEN Swatragh interim manager John Kearney emerged from the team huddle after victory over Bellaghy on Saturday evening, he had two concise messages. The players deserved all the credit for digging out the result and they’d have to repeat the performance in Lavey on Sunday (3.30pm) in their final group game. The […]
By Michael McMullan HE may have been a major injury doubt, but there was never a question of goalkeeper Ryan Scullion’s involvement in Ballinascreen’s do or die relegation play-off with Lavey. Scullion saved three penalties in Friday’s shoot-out at end of a nip and tuck 80 minutes of action before Antain Donnelly’s winning penalty ensured […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY league champions Bellaghy have their eyes fully focussed on next month’s championship opener with Dungiven insists Eoghan Brown. The Tones won their first league title since 2004 and used the campaign to make progress from last season when they found themselves in trouble until Derry CCC’s decision to scrap the relegation play-offs. […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY and Ulster champions Glen have been handed a bye when they begin the defence of the John McLaughlin Cup next month. The Watties will be aiming for three-in-a-row and the draw’s seeding kept them apart from last year’s beaten finalists Sleacht Néill who are paired with 2019 champions Magherafelt. The new-look […]
By Michael McMullan BELLAGHY were crowned league champions in Derry by virtue of 2022 winners Glen’s win over Tones’ nearest challengers Coleraine in their final game of the season. Damian Cassidy’s side – still with a game to spare – were on the cusp of the title after last Tuesday’s win at home to Dungiven […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY and Ulster champions Glen and beaten finalists Sleacht Néill have been kept apart in the Derry SFC. All competitions will be played in a group format before moving into the knock-outs stages. The group stages begin as follows: SFC: August 6 (Final October 29) IFC: August 6 (Final October 29) JFC: […]
By Michael McMullan STAYING in Division One was always Steelstown’s target this year insists manager Paddy Campbell. Now, with their status secured, the Brian Ógs are eyeing a similar feat when the senior championship rolls into action this summer. While falling narrow to Newbridge ini the league at the weekend, defeats for Ballinascreen and Lavey […]
