This weekend’s championship at a glance


ANOTHER weekend of club action across Ulster beckons as clubs begin the serious end of the season. ANTRIM SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS Cargin v Ahoghill Friday, Portglenone, 7.30pm Advertisement THE champions have again been the form team and come into the last eight as group winners. Ahoghill picked their form but make the short trip […]


Loup boss McVey hails McNulty’s impact


By Michael McMullan LOUP manager Declan McVey has hailed the work of coach Gerard McNulty after his side’s vital win over Steelstown gives them a chance of making the knock-out stages. After a draw with Ballinascreen, Loup were on the wrong end of a heavy Newbridge defeat to leave last weekend’s game a vital hour as the […]


Magherafelt game a benchmark for the ‘Bridge


By Michael McMullan SATURDAY’S top of the table clash with Magherafelt will be an indicator of where his side sit in the Derry SFC pecking order insists Newbridge joint manager Gary Hetherington. The ‘Bridge backed up their narrow win over Lavey with a more convincing victory over Loup. Next up is a rematch of last […]


McGuckin happy with Magherafelt’s depth


By Michael McMullan MAGHERAFELT joint manager Brian McGuckin is happy to see depth developing in their squad after picking up their second win of the championship. Derry duo Conor McCluskey and Odhrán Lynch sat out their win over Lavey with Cormac Murphy only coming off the bench on his return from injury. McGuckin, who manages […]


All-Ireland win distant memory as Glen take their first step of new campaign


By Michael McMullan GLEN selector Johnny Bradley insists their status as All-Ireland champions has no significance on the new championship odyssey. The defence of their Derry, Ulster and All-Ireland titles starts against neighbours Sleacht Néill on Saturday night. The Watties, again under Malachy O’Rourke’s watch, will join the Emmet’s (2017) and Bellaghy (1958) as four-in-a-row […]


Magherafelt aware of Steelstown threat


By Michael McMullan BRIAN McGuckin knows exactly what’s in store when Magherafelt begin their Derry Senior Championship campaign on Friday night. Last year’s beaten finalists face Steelstown and McGuckin, joint manager alongside Richard Thornton, can remember the Sleacht Néill escaping with a draw against the city side at the same stage last season. “It was […]


Rossa are planning without McCluskey


By Michael McMullan MAGHERAFELT will be without Derry’s All-Star defender Conor McCluskey for the foreseeable future. ‘Clucky’ will undergo an operation this week on a groin injury that hampered him through his season with Derry and will be out “long term” according to Rossa joint manager Brian McGuckin. After missing the first three McKenna Cup […]


Glen begin title defences against their rivals


By Michael McMullan GLEN begin the defence of their Derry, Ulster and All-Ireland titles this weekend. In a slight change this season, Derry CCC have arranged the 12-team championship into two groups of six. The top four in each section advancing to the quarter-finals. Glen will take on Sleacht Néill on Saturday night while beaten […]


Kilrea turn their focus towards championship


By Michael McMullan KILREA won the Derry Senior League for the first time since 1981 but have now set their sights on the championship which kicks into action next month. Before a ball was kicked this season, Kilrea’s magic word was consistency. In recent years, they were sucked into a relegation battle with the added […]