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 Niall Gartland BELLAGHY are set to take on All-Ireland kingpins Glen in their second group stage match of the campaign this weekend, but it doesn’t quite get the hair standing on the back of the neck like a true knock-out championship game. Damian Cassidy’s side got off to a winning start with victory […]
By Michael McMullan TRIBUTES have been made in memory of Maura McCloy, a giant of camogie, who passed away on Tuesday evening. McCloy was at the forefront of the game especially in her native Bellaghy and Derry where she served in many different capacities. The presence of Gaels from across Derry and beyond at Maura’s […]
By Michael McMullan IT’S the height of the playing season but Bellaghy open their doors to the world on Saturday afternoon (2pm) for a drug awareness talk from Dublin All-Ireland medal winner Philly McMahon. The Ballymun Kickhams man lost his brother after a battle with drug addiction and he will lift the lid on the […]
By Michael McMullan ONE glance at Tom Quinn’s list of achievements tells you the stature of the man in footballing circles. Tom passed away recently and will go down as one of the all-time Bellaghy and Derry greats. With St Columb’s Derry, he won a Hogan Cup in 1965. A minor All-Ireland title followed in […]
Fifty years ago, Ballinascreen were Derry senior champions. Former Derry star Brendan Kelly was a key member of their winning team. Michael McMullan went to meet him… BRENDAN Kelly’s facial expression says it all. He just loves talking football. As a back-to-back Ulster winner with Derry in the mid-seventies, the game has treated him well. There […]
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 […]
DERRY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP By Niall Gartland GLEN were a kick of the ball away from landing the Andy Merrigan Cup back in January. We won’t go into the ins and outs of the controversy that followed, but the point we’re trying to make is that Malachy O’Rourke’s side are one of the best teams in […]
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 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 […]
