THE Ulster Championship last weekend felt like an extension of the National League – poor crowds, soft pitches and windy, wintery conditions. It was a far cry from the summer sod, when the sun is shining, the straw hats are out and the football is fast and intense. Down’s game with Antrim on Saturday was […]
Both teams will say it’s a tough draw: McFlynn
Paul McFlynn played in Derry’s 1998 winning team against Donegal and is part of the current management team. He spoke to Michael McMullan WHEN Paul McFlynn hoovered up a late Derry kick-out in the 1998 Ulster final, Donegal had one hand on the Anglo Celt Cup. Within seconds, Joe Brolly was blowing kisses, basking in […]
Diarmuid Baker: The ultimate underdog
Diarmuid Baker hurdled over every obstacle to fulfil his lifeline ambition of pulling on a Derry shirt. Shaun Casey writes… DIARMUID Baker didn’t get one minute of action last year as Derry captured the McKenna Cup, secured promotion to Division One, retained their Ulster title and were a kick of the ball away from the […]
Crossan aims to spring a surprise
By Alan Rodgers POINTS on the board will now be top priority for the Tyrone hurlers as they continue their Christy Ring Cup campaign with a crucial tie on Saturday at Owenbeg against a Derry team which is among the favourites to eventually win the competition. Defeat to London last weekend means that it’s becoming […]
Derry put unbeaten run on the line in Tyrone rematch
By Michael McMullan WHEN Derry were seeing off Tyrone in the league final last month, Dara Mooney was darting down a Bulgarian ski slope. As his first season began to take momentum, the realisation of missing the game became real. With his teaching qualification tucked away, he has spent the last year as the Student’s Union […]
McGuinness: Derry game is much more than mere ‘free-hit’
By Shaun Casey MICKEY Harte was always the Everest that Jim McGuinness needed to scale. Go back to 2011 before the Ulster and All-Ireland titles, before the All-Stars and Player of the Year awards, before one of the greatest turnarounds in GAA history. McGuinness’ first objective when he assumed the reins of his native county […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: This is the one
THERE has been a lot of giving out about the lack of championship feel to the games up until now. This will all disappear on Saturday evening when close neighbours Donegal and Derry lock horns. Whatever the result on Saturday, one thing is for sure it will look and feel like a proper championship game. […]
Kilkenny has “massive respect” for rivals Derry
By Shaun Casey DUBLIN footballer Ciaran Kilkenny says he has “massive respect” for All-Ireland contenders Derry and like the rest of the country, is excited to watch their clash with Donegal this weekend. Mickey Harte and Jim McGuinness renew their acquisitions on the sideline and Kilkenny, who has played against Derry four times in the […]
Monaghan and Derry book semi-final spots
Ulster U-20 FC quarter-finals Derry 1-11 Cavan 0-7 Monaghan 1-15 Armagh 0-13 DERRY and Monaghan booked their semi-final spots on Wednesday night with wins over Cavan and Armagh. At Owenbeg, it was 1-4 from Oisin Doherty who pushed Derry into a position of control with James Murray doing a fine marking job on Bre3ffni ace […]
Derry hurling boss wary of potential banana skin
By Niall Gartland DERRY hurlers begin their Christy Ring Cup campaign this weekend as they commence their quest to go one better than last year in the competition. The Oakleafers lost last year’s final by a mere two points against Meath, but manager Johnny McGarvey knows it would be foolhardy to look beyond the group […]