Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[JohnDenver]

Kelvin Madden in with swatragh,will that be a good appointment ?

If he is anything to Kevin, it could be!! Seriously though, probably a sound enough appointment.  Swatragh, you would think, not that far away from mounting a serious championship challenge - with plenty of local encouragement, of course!

Swatragh have a fair few handy footballers at the minute. The 3 Kearney brothers, 2 McWilliams, McAtamney's however I feel they are very light on defenders. A strong front 8.

Am I right in thinking there is now a 4th younger brother on the scene now? and another handy player he is.  On paper they definitely have the makings of a team that can challenge.

[toby47]

Sorry yeah forgot about the 4th, another cracking player who had a good championship last year.

As I say, a lot of talent from midfield up but I think they are short in defence to give the senior championship a real push.

[restorepride]

Although I'm hearing it didn't end to well for him in The Loup or Dungiven,or maybe that was Kevin

Kevin who?

[Estimator]

From Gaelic Life:

THERE  are a number of changes to Rory Gallagher's panel this year of note.

One of the big ones is the return of Gareth McKinless, the Ballinderry defender. He was part of the panel in the early part of 2020 but dropped off it. He has been in and out of the squad for the past six years, and will bring vast experience of playing at club and county.

There are a few departures. Alex Doherty, the talented  Glen attacker, has not committed to the squad. He was part of those brilliantly successful Glen teams which won a string of minor and u-21 Ulster Club titles. He was also part of the Derry minor team that reached the All-Ireland final in 2017.

Meanwhile, Castledawson's Niall Keenan is studying in England and has been unable to commit to the squad.

Gallagher will also be pleased that he is going to get a full season out of Conor Glass.

The Glen man had been playing AFL in Australia but returned to Ireland after his contract with Hawthorn ran out. He was able to take part in last year's Ulster Championship with Derry. He'll be available from the start of the year.
------

Fair play to Alex Doherty for winning those minor titles as an U-12/U-14.

[toby47]

McKinless back is a massive boost

[Red10]

Bit of a joke McKinless back. A man who has shown next to no commitment when he's been in squads the last few times he's be invloved. Disruptive influence - Won't be long before he falls out with Gallagher. Keenan was already dropped last year by him.

[Derry Optimist]

Firstly it is surprising to think that one of Derry's finest and most consistently dedicated and well-disciplined players of the last twelve years,Enda Lynn, has recently and suddenly fallen out of favour and is no longer on the panel.


Secondly, though rather ironically, a player who has had past managerial and discipline difficulties  is now fully committed to rejoining the current panel. It is good to see this. Both player and management deserve credit for this happening

Gareth McKinless is an undoubted and very versatile talent who can play in any position. He is equally good as a tight marking corner back, an attacking overlapping wing half back who can break a tackle at pace or as a visionary centre half forward who can make life miserable for any defence.

There is one caveat, however. He needs to curb his tendency to foul needlessly. If he does so and remains really  committed all the time he will be a huge addition to the team.

To really add to the overall positive team ethos it would be great to see a meaningful reconciliation between Enda Lynn and management if the former wants to rejoin the panel. Both sides know what is required to make this happen. Now is the time to do so.

[restorepride]

Bit of a joke McKinless back. A man who has shown next to no commitment when he's been in squads the last few times he's be invloved. Disruptive influence - Won't be long before he falls out with Gallagher. Keenan was already dropped last year by him.

Overall, I agree.  Discipline on the field is more important now that ever - go down to 14 and it is over, more or less.  Maybe some maturing has taken place since last in a Doire jersey but it is a risk taking McKinless back in to the fold.

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

not be much of a season anyhow, also covid at risk of finishing some clubs

[restorepride]

not be much of a season anyhow, also covid at risk of finishing some clubs

True - will be short.   

I wonder, in a strange way, will some small clubs 'rise stronger again' through amalgamation - which in normal times wouldn't ever have been contemplated but 'Covid' has brought a new reality/necessity?  An opportunity to re-assess and rebuild, in a much more sustainable way?  Just a thought!

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

not be much of a season anyhow, also covid at risk of finishing some clubs

True - will be short.   

I wonder, in a strange way, will some small clubs 'rise stronger again' through amalgamation - which in normal times wouldn't ever have been contemplated but 'Covid' has brought a new reality/necessity?  An opportunity to re-assess and rebuild, in a much more sustainable way?  Just a thought!

Possibly, we done a lot of work there for good few years but id be seriously concerned about getting lads back after this- 16-19 bracket

[restorepride]

I have just heard that Tom Scullion from BallyScullion, Bellaghy, is not well with Covid.  Tom used to (and maybe still does?) hold the record for the number of football championship medals in Derry (11 or 12?).  Also in Ulster, until Crossmaglen took over!   

Anyhow, I know that all Doire Gaels will be thinking of Tom at the minute.  If my memory serves me right, Tom was also part of the management team that won the Ulster Championship for Doire in 1987.  Gael go smior agus ceannaire ina cheantar féin, fear a bhfuil Gaeilge aige agus é breá bródúil as a dhúchas Gaelach.  Go n-éirí leat, Tom, leis an troid ina bhfuil tú.

[restorepride]

I have just heard that Tom Scullion from BallyScullion, Bellaghy, is not well with Covid.  Tom used to (and maybe still does?) hold the record for the number of football championship medals in Derry (11 or 12?).  Also in Ulster, until Crossmaglen took over!   

Anyhow, I know that all Doire Gaels will be thinking of Tom at the minute.  If my memory serves me right, Tom was also part of the management team that won the Ulster Championship for Doire in 1987.  Gael go smior agus ceannaire ina cheantar féin, fear a bhfuil Gaeilge aige agus é breá bródúil as a dhúchas Gaelach.  Go n-éirí leat, Tom, leis an troid ina bhfuil tú.

Apparently Tom died today.  Gael go smior - suaimhneas síoraí.

[Estimator]

Bored again, and there hasn't been much action on this board for a while...
Quick look at the last 30years of the Derry SFC with a small bit of analysis..

SFC 2010 - 2020 (Inc)
Club	Played	Won	Lost
Slaughtneil	6	5	1
Ballinderry	5	3	2
Coleraine	3	2	1
Magherafelt	2	1	1
Ballinascreen	2	0	2
Loup	1	0	1
Lavey	1	0	1
Glen	1	0	1
Kilrea	1	0	1

9 Teams making final appearances, 5 non-winners, 4 have won and lost finals. Slaughtneil top of the pile in the last decade, with Ballinderry in second spot. Which was pretty much the split half way through the decade. No sign of Bellaghy the record title holders with 21.

SFC 2000 - 2020 (Inc)
Club	Played	Won	Lost
Ballinderry	10	6	4
Slaughtneil	8	6	2
Bellaghy	5	2	3
Loup	5	2	3
Coleraine	3	2	1
Magherafelt	2	1	1
Ballinascreen	2	0	2
Glenullin	1	1	0
Lavey	1	0	1
Dungiven	1	0	1
Glen	1	0	1
Kilrea	1	0	1

12 Teams making final appearances, 5 non-winners from those 12 clubs, 6 have won and lost finals. 

Ballinderry's haul of 6 titles include back to back titles and a 3 in a row.  Slaughtneil have a 4 in a row. These two are top of the tree, with the Shamrocks making a couple more appearances than Slaughtneil.

4 teams (Ballinderry, Slaughtneil, Bellaghy Loup) with 27 appearances between them (15 victories)

Though, for 3 of them final appearances are getting further away:
Loup 2016, Ballinderry 2014, Bellaghy 2007

Bellaghy are joint 3rd on the list despite not appearing in a final since 2007 and haven't won one since 2005.

2018 & 2019 First time we'd 4 different teams in the final since the period 2007 – 2010 where there were 7 different teams in the final and 4 different winners.

Now looking at it for the last 30years inclusive.

SFC 1990 - 2020 (Inc)
Club	Played	Won	Lost
Ballinderry	12	7	5
Bellaghy	10	6	4
Slaughtneil	8	6	2
Lavey	5	3	2
Loup	5	2	3
Ballinascreen	5	0	5
Dungiven	4	2	2
Coleraine	3	2	1
Magherafelt	2	1	1
Glenullin	1	1	0
Castledawson	1	0	1
Glen	1	0	1
Kilrea	1	0	1
Newbridge	1	0	1
Swatragh	1	0	1

Looking at the two tables a couple of things stand out.  Ballinascreen have played the same amount of finals as Lavey & Loup but they've lost on each occasion. Though it appears to be lucky to beat  'Screen in the final.  As each team went on to win Ulster in each of the respective years ('90, '92, '94, '13 & '17)  Lavey won the AI, and Bellaghy and Slaughtneil got the AI Final.

Bellaghy's record dramatically improves including the 1990's. Moving them up to second in the table. They won 4 in the 90's from 5 final appearances.

6 teams have made a solitary appearance – with only Glenullin having made the most of that appearance.

Predicting the future!?!

You'd expect Glen to start winning senior titles now, great age profile for the side and they have been playing together for a good few years.  When they were winning their minor titles, and progressing to senior football, they were going into a team with only a very small number of seasoned senior players.  The return of Glass and having O'Rourke at the helm should be the catalyst required to get them over the line.

Magherafelt probably have a pick of well over 70 senior footballers, given the amount of players that have come through the last few years.  Remember seeing the photos of the senior/reserve/minor squads of a couple of years ago, they had huge numbers in their ranks.  They could easily field a completely different competitive side in each one of the Derry leagues. Their task will be putting them together in a formation that can continue to win titles for them, and keeping everyone happy. Might be wise for some to transfer to other local clubs to gain senior football experience, rather play reserves or thirds.

Bellaghy and Lavey, to me, they are in a similar position as Glen were a few years ago.  Excellent minor sides recently, but they are entering senior football without too many seasoned campaigners.  Bellaghy's last great side was off the back of superb 91 & 94 minor sides mixing with a few lads who had won in '86. Lavey's minor sides of '83 & '84, were the main reason behind their victories in the late '80s early '90s, but they still had the likes of Anthony McGurk on the panel.  Could be another couple of years before those two sides start to make their mark on the SFC. But they are definitely not too far away.

Slaughtneil, they're still going strong, but their total dominance has to come to an end, with the other sides emerging. Yeah, they have younger players like McGuigan and McKaigue (Jr), but others will have to be replaced soon. The like of Bradley and McEldowney cannot go on forever. McKaigue (Snr) is 31/32?, and has a couple of injuries recently. But, they'll definitely not go quietly into the night, and could still have a couple of C'ships left in them.

There you are, you can agree with me if you want, disagree with me if you want or add your own thoughts/opinions, and double check that I've got the facts right

[Newbridge Exile]

 Great bit of analysis there Estimator