TWO weeks ago, before the real knockout action started in the intercounty championship, I spoke about the importance of teams limiting turnovers and how costly turnovers would be when it came to clutch moments in big games. The quarter finals were littered with them particularly in the opening game of the weekend when Kerry’s defensive intensity […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY minor manager Damian McErlain insists the county senior footballers’ upward curve has morphed interest in football across the county into “a different animal”. Speaking ahead of his side’s final week of preparation for Sunday week’s All-Ireland minor final showdown with Monaghan, McErlain – a former senior manager – has noticed first-hand […]
All-Ireland SFC quarter-final Derry v Cork Sunday, Croke Park, 1.45pm Live on RTÉ By Michael McMullan “They may not appreciate it when I say it, but Derry needed this All-Ireland a lot more than Cork did.” The words of Derry captain Henry Downey followed the 1993 All-Ireland final, the last time the Oakleaf County crossed […]
All-Ireland SFC Round 2 Donegal v Derry Sunday, MacCumhaill Park, 4pm (Live on RTÉ) By Michael McMullan IT took nearly 100 minutes of tactical intrigue to separate these teams in last year’s Ulster final until Brendan Rogers and Conor Glass ran Donegal on a path they couldn’t follow. Before that, it was one decisive swing […]
LAST weekend the start of the All-Ireland group stages commenced with holders Kerry opening their account against this year’s league champions and contenders to their crown Mayo. A lot of discussion has emerged around the new group format and the pointless nature of three group games and the incredible scenario that in some groups, even […]
Derry’s win over Armagh brought the curtain down on another Ulster Senior Football Championship. Michael McMullan cast his eyes over the key players in his Team of the Year selection. 1 – Odhrán Lynch (Derry) LITTLE to choose between him and Ethan Rafferty but saving three penalties in a shoot-out is something Lynch, Derry folk or […]
By Michael McMullan THE experience of 2022 and dealing with the noise in Clones stood to Derry as Sunday’s Ulster final insists manager Ciaran Meenagh. Without the use of a Maor Foirne, running on to give instructions, Meenagh expressed how difficult it was to get messages on to the players as Sunday’s Ulster final morphed […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY captain Conor Glass said it was a privilege to play on the same team as Shane McGuigan in Sunday’s Ulster final win over Armagh. Both players scored penalties in a dramatic shootout as the Oakleafers repeated the feat of the team of 1976 by retaining the Ulster title. McGuigan was named […]
DERRY’S midfield pairing of Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers “have everything you want around the middle of the field” says former Mayo star Seamie O’Shea. O’Shea lined out around the middle throughout his playing days, never came up against Glass or Rogers. Looking on at the minute however, he picks them out as one of […]
By Shaun Casey CHRISSY McKaigue was just a youngster coming onto the scene when Armagh last won the Ulster Championship, getting their hands on the Anglo Celt for the seventh time in ten years during a golden period of Orchard County dominance. McKaigue came off the bench and scored a point as Derry crashed out […]
