By Niall Gartland NEW Derry camogie manager Eamonn Melaugh tentatively his sights on reaching another Division 2A final even though there’s been a massive turnover in personnel during the off-season. Last September, PJ O’Mullan stepped down after two seasons at the helm of the Oakleafers, the highlight of which was their 2023 All-Ireland Intermediate triumph. […]
By Niall Gartland ST PATRICK’S, Maghera skipper Cahal McKaigue comes from good stock and his famous cousin Chrissy is part of the management team who have engineered their run to Sunday’s MacRory Cup final against Abbey VS. He’s very much the Sleacht Néill prototype – a talented footballer and hurler and already he has graduated to […]
By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill dual player Jack Cassidy is the latest Irish player aiming for a career in American Football. Cassidy plays in goals in football and had a spell in the Derry squad under Mickey Harte last season. A freetaker as an outfield player in his underage days, he was drafted into the […]
ON the four previous occasions that Sleacht Néill have reached the All-Ireland semi-finals, they’ve always given a really, really good account of themselves. They’ve never been overly lucky with the draw they’ve got. To me, the big thing about this game against Sarsfields is that historically, first time Munster winners tend to just be content […]
By Michael McMullan SLEACHT Néill hurlers face into the club’s fifth All-Ireland semi-final bidding to smash the glass ceiling to book a first ever appearance in the showpiece. After winning a fifth Ulster Championship – on the back of a 12th successive Derry title – they take on Sarsfields of Cork on Sunday. Their semi-final […]
By Michael McMullan ULSTER champions Sleacht Néill are “under no illusions” about the battle they’ll face in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final but are tapping into the experience of their four forays into the national stage. Sleacht Néill take on Munster champions Sarsfields on Sunday bidding to book a first ever hurling final showdown. After a […]
BY Michael McMullan CORMAC O’Doherty has been around enough corners to know that Sleacht Néill must have their eyes peeled with Portaferry coming down the tracks this week. While they’ve dominated the Derry scene for 12 seasons, they’ve just over a 50 per cent hit rate from their Ulster final appearances. Ballycran gave them a lesson […]
By Niall Gartland CAOLAN Taggart was only a teenager when he pocketed an Ulster Championship medal back in 2014, but it’s taken Portaferry a full 10 years to get back to provincial final day. You could point out with some justification that they have received a bye into the final, but their performance against eventual champions […]
By Michael McMullan PAUL McNeill puts the Sleacht Néill hurlers’ consistency down to a sheer desire to win but admits improvements are needed ahead of Saturday’s Ulster semi-final date with reigning champions Cushendall. The vice-captain’s first taste of senior hurling was his addition to the panel for their 2014 replay defeat at the hands of […]
THE big game this weekend is the meeting of Sleacht Néill and Cushendall in the Ulster Senior Club Championship semi-final. It’s a repeat of last year’s final – Cushendall were full value for their 0-20 to 2-10 success – and they’re expected by the bookies to repeat the trick and book their spot in the decider against Portaferry […]
