By Niall Gartland THE hurlers from Sleacht Néill claimed a remarkable 12th consecutive Derry Senior Championship title last weekend with a comfortable win over Banagher, and ace forward Cormac O’Doherty says they were determined not to let complacency scupper their chances. It would’ve been a major shock had Sleacht Néill relinquished their crown, but they […]
By Niall Gartland A MAGICAL moment captured for posterity. Conor McGrogan sank to his knees and embraced Mark and Conleith, also of the McGrogan stable, at the final whistle of a long-awaited Derry Senior Championship triumph for Newbridge. Not only had the O’Leary’s clinched their first senior title in 35 years, but they’d done so […]
Lawrence Walls played senior football for Newbridge across four decades. His nephew Declan McKeever is the oldest player on the current squad. Both men are buzzing. Michael McMullan went to meet them. A WAIT of 33 years is down to just nine days. If at all possible, football talk is even more dominant around […]
By Michael McMullan SHANE McGrogan’s winning goal booked Newbridge’s place in a first county final in 33 years and ended two years of hurt. When Conor Doherty’s point attempt dropped shot, McGrogan flicked to the net to sink Magherafelt in Saturday’s drab semi-final. It was a third semi-final in as many seasons for Newbridge. They […]
By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill’s performance in their quarter-final win over Ballinascreen won’t be enough to beat the other contenders in the John McLaughlin Cup race insists coach Niall Morgan. The Tyrone goalkeeper joined Mark Doran’s management team this season as the Emmet’s bid for a first title since 2020. Morgan was speaking before the […]
By Michael McMullan GLEN never take the Derry Championship for granted insists midfielder Emmett Bradley. Speaking within minutes of kicking four vital points in their slender win over Lavey, Bradley also spoke of the need for mental resolve when their quarter-final opponents played keep ball for the opening 20 minutes. It took Ethan Doherty’s fourth […]
By Michael McMullan MAGHERAFELT will be boosted by the return of Derry defender Eoin McEvoy for Saturday’s Derry SFC semi-final showdown with Newbridge. McEvoy, a nominee for Young Player of the Year, missed Sunday’s win over Dungiven due to his AFL trials down under. Magherafelt were 2-6 to 0-7 winners thanks to goals from Declan […]
By Michael McMullan LAVEY face the task of downing All-Ireland champions Glen in Saturday’s Derry SFC quarter-final. Following narrow defeats to Newbridge and Magherafelt, Lavey picked up three wins to get their season back on track in the group stages. If their championship campaign has been about progress, their season, as a whole, has been […]
By Michael McMullan GLEN are well aware there is a target on their back and selector Johnny Bradley feels the tight games will stand to their squad coming into the knock-out stages. The Watties needed five points from the impressive Ethan Doherty to shoot them to a 0-10 to 0-9 win over Dungiven on Sunday […]
By Michael McMullan THE 12 teams still in the hunt to get their hands on the John McLaughlin Cup will be shaved back this weekend with the penultimate round of group games in the Derry Senior Football Championship. Sleacht Néill and Newbridge have won all three games to date inflicting the only defeats on All-Ireland […]
