Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Wildweasel74]

Ballinderry Derry small, dont buy that either. I remember having to play 3 u12 games in a row, mid 1980's cause they had 50 cubs looking a game, and Big Adrian had sorted with our manager to give all a game! brutal

[Ryan O]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

[ardtole]

Kilcoo genuinely is a small parish. The football club is surrounded by Bryansford, Clonduff, Castlewellan, Laitroim and Drumgath, it's remarkable what they achieve.

[Squareball71]

Kilcoo genuinely is a small parish. The football club is surrounded by Bryansford, Clonduff, Castlewellan, Laitroim and Drumgath, it's remarkable what they achieve.

It sure is remarkable. To be so small and disliked by so many is some achievement.

[Squareball71]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

Surely Ryan out to Garvagh would be Swatragh territory would it not?

[Squareball71]

Cahair isn't far off the mark with his latest article, a quarter full owenbeg does nothing for the atmosphere. There shouldn't be a game played there before the SF stage.

Is Owenbeg really the reason for the atmosphere? Perhaps if some of the clubs decided to play a bit of decent football it would help. Not a lot at the minute to enthuse the supporters.

People talk about how great Glen is. How many on here were at the Ballinderry v Banagher league play off? A big crowd but the atmosphere was shocking. Why? Not Watty Graham Park's fault? It was because the game was so one sided, the game as a whole was poor and nothing more. Have we heard that this season? Nearly every Derry senior game this season. Wouldn't have mattered where you would have watched the Senior games last weekend the atmosphere would have been dismal. A team of dancing cheerleaders with a firework show wouldn't have brightened up the games, particularly the Kilrea and Loup games.

The atmosphere is poor because the games are poor!!! As for Cahair how would he know how full Owenbeg is? Sure he spends most of his time in his beloved County Down. He would write anything for a few clicks and likes.

[lenny]

Cahair isn't far off the mark with his latest article, a quarter full owenbeg does nothing for the atmosphere. There shouldn't be a game played there before the SF stage.

Is Owenbeg really the reason for the atmosphere? Perhaps if some of the clubs decided to play a bit of decent football it would help. Not a lot at the minute to enthuse the supporters.

People talk about how great Glen is. How many on here were at the Ballinderry v Banagher league play off? A big crowd but the atmosphere was shocking. Why? Not Watty Graham Park's fault? It was because the game was so one sided, the game as a whole was poor and nothing more. Have we heard that this season? Nearly every Derry senior game this season. Wouldn't have mattered where you would have watched the Senior games last weekend the atmosphere would have been dismal. A team of dancing cheerleaders with a firework show wouldn't have brightened up the games, particularly the Kilrea and Loup games.

The atmosphere is poor because the games are poor!!! As for Cahair how would he know how full Owenbeg is? Sure he spends most of his time in his beloved County Down. He would write anything for a few clicks and likes.

Disagree, I'd say there would be a better crowd and atmosphere if some of the early round games were held in Glen, Bellaghy, Ballinascreen, Magherafelt, Slaughtneil etc. The matches over the last weekend or two haven't been great but the weather has been atrocious. People seem to be comparing to the tyrone championship but they've had quite a few poor one sided games also. Dungannon trillick was a great match but that was 2 teams in the top 3 in the league drawn against each other and they were both in the top 4 teams with the bookies.

[Mikhailov]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Big Phil - pay a visit to the Tyrone site and read about the size of the Errigal parish. One reader says it is the same size as an area in east Tyrone that has 13 clubs in it !!!

[Mikhailov]

Errigal is not a small parish.....massive catchment area

I stand corrected. Been through it once in my life and didn't even see a shop. 123 acres according to google, seems small but I'm not a farmer or Ordnance Survey Man!

Phil, you do realise Errigal catchment area includes the town of Ballygawley!!!

[zapped]

Cahair isn't far off the mark with his latest article, a quarter full owenbeg does nothing for the atmosphere. There shouldn't be a game played there before the SF stage.

Is Owenbeg really the reason for the atmosphere? Perhaps if some of the clubs decided to play a bit of decent football it would help. Not a lot at the minute to enthuse the supporters.

People talk about how great Glen is. How many on here were at the Ballinderry v Banagher league play off? A big crowd but the atmosphere was shocking. Why? Not Watty Graham Park's fault? It was because the game was so one sided, the game as a whole was poor and nothing more. Have we heard that this season? Nearly every Derry senior game this season. Wouldn't have mattered where you would have watched the Senior games last weekend the atmosphere would have been dismal. A team of dancing cheerleaders with a firework show wouldn't have brightened up the games, particularly the Kilrea and Loup games.

The atmosphere is poor because the games are poor!!! As for Cahair how would he know how full Owenbeg is? Sure he spends most of his time in his beloved County Down. He would write anything for a few clicks and likes.

An interesting debate.
Down through the years we would have had no more than 2 games at any location across the opening weekend. We'd have families driving between Bellaghy, Lavey, Glen, Swatragh and Ballinascreen and sometimes racing from one to the other to catch throw in. Handy for the south derry attendee, but what about the neutral.

Most of these club grounds have let's face it sub-standard facilities for what people expect these days (shops, toilets, parking, covered stand, WiFi).

Owenbeg is a ground which is one of the finest in Ulster where people can sit in the same seat and sometimes watch 4 games in the same day. Plenty of parking. The kids don't get wet and complain. It's comfortable. Has plenty of shops and toilets.

I agree with SquareBall - sometimes when you've nothing positive to say your best off saying nothing! I suppose there's no vacant managerial post to talk about this year..

One thought: The lack of atmosphere could be due to how poor some of the teams are. When you manufacture a 16 team SFC championship you're going to have some non-events. Drumsurn, Swatragh, Kilrea, Ballinderry, Ballinascreen, Faughanvale (edit: and Loup) are all IFC teams
Thats not to mention the new rules..

[Ryan O]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

Surely Ryan out to Garvagh would be Swatragh territory would it not?

you would think that but without starting to name family surnames there are players from almost Carhill playing for Slaughneil. There is also some from the Kilrea side of Upperlands heading to there also.
Look I'm not saying this is anything to do with the club/clubs and like Glen currently there is a percentage of success hunters chasing glory for their little darlings.
I just wary of how we stop the inevitable creation of big 4 or 5 massive clubs with the chasing pack always chasing.
Are the CB doing enough at primary school level with coaching etc. especially when smaller clubs are struggling so badly for numbers?
Would there be an appetite for North,South, East, West Derry league for u14/u16/minor during winter to give lads from smaller clubs an opportunity. 24/30 of a squad instead of just development squads of 24.

[greenlight]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

Surely Ryan out to Garvagh would be Swatragh territory would it not?

you would think that but without starting to name family surnames there are players from almost Carhill playing for Slaughneil. There is also some from the Kilrea side of Upperlands heading to there also.
Look I'm not saying this is anything to do with the club/clubs and like Glen currently there is a percentage of success hunters chasing glory for their little darlings.
I just wary of how we stop the inevitable creation of big 4 or 5 massive clubs with the chasing pack always chasing.
Are the CB doing enough at primary school level with coaching etc. especially when smaller clubs are struggling so badly for numbers?
Would there be an appetite for North,South, East, West Derry league for u14/u16/minor during winter to give lads from smaller clubs an opportunity. 24/30 of a squad instead of just development squads of 24.

Lets let kids be kids. No need for them playing club football all year around. Particularly in the winter with no pitch availability. We'd just have clubs conceding games and it would turn out a total mess.

Heard Ballerin have opted to be relegated to JFC. Same as Drumsurn with IFC. I'm not sure what the county board are doing, but it seems like many clubs can't be bothered themselves

[Ryan O]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

Surely Ryan out to Garvagh would be Swatragh territory would it not?

you would think that but without starting to name family surnames there are players from almost Carhill playing for Slaughneil. There is also some from the Kilrea side of Upperlands heading to there also.
Look I'm not saying this is anything to do with the club/clubs and like Glen currently there is a percentage of success hunters chasing glory for their little darlings.
I just wary of how we stop the inevitable creation of big 4 or 5 massive clubs with the chasing pack always chasing.
Are the CB doing enough at primary school level with coaching etc. especially when smaller clubs are struggling so badly for numbers?
Would there be an appetite for North,South, East, West Derry league for u14/u16/minor during winter to give lads from smaller clubs an opportunity. 24/30 of a squad instead of just development squads of 24.

Lets let kids be kids. No need for them playing club football all year around. Particularly in the winter with no pitch availability. We'd just have clubs conceding games and it would turn out a total mess.

Heard Ballerin have opted to be relegated to JFC. Same as Drumsurn with IFC. I'm not sure what the county board are doing, but it seems like many clubs can't be bothered themselves

I love this "let kids be kids" line, what does it actually mean.

I know that alot from our area play soccer all winter which for the younger ones is always classed as competitive and thats what draws them too it.
When should they not be kids are start drifting into the competitive game scenario.

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

Surely Ryan out to Garvagh would be Swatragh territory would it not?

you would think that but without starting to name family surnames there are players from almost Carhill playing for Slaughneil. There is also some from the Kilrea side of Upperlands heading to there also.
Look I'm not saying this is anything to do with the club/clubs and like Glen currently there is a percentage of success hunters chasing glory for their little darlings.
I just wary of how we stop the inevitable creation of big 4 or 5 massive clubs with the chasing pack always chasing.
Are the CB doing enough at primary school level with coaching etc. especially when smaller clubs are struggling so badly for numbers?
Would there be an appetite for North,South, East, West Derry league for u14/u16/minor during winter to give lads from smaller clubs an opportunity. 24/30 of a squad instead of just development squads of 24.

It was ever thus with Slaughtneil. You couldn't define a catchment area but you knew as soon as a child was born into a Slaughtneil family they'd be pulling on the maroon and white. Wasn't an issue in the first 50 years of the club when they won very little, shouldn't be an issue now.

[Ryan O]

Every club has the same issue, that's crap, I seen Kilrea Reserve game one nite with 25+ players. Drumsurn a small place, they were never strong enough to play senior football. Derry football only strong enough for a top 12 club system but teams at the lower end of the league wouldnt go for that. What's Ballinascreen excuse for bottom of the league/championship more times than enough. Takes in 3 places, massive townland and always near the bottom.

The old "huge parish/massive townland" argument doesn't stack up in my book. I would contend the opposite is true. Look at the likes of Kilcoo, Slaughtneil, Trillick, Errigal in recent years and historically Ballinderry. All relatively small parishes (I haven't researched the square mileage) and have been hugely successful. These are places where the GAA club is the absolute heart of the community. Most children's past times are GAA. Larger towns/townlands have other activities like soccer, rallying, bars etc which definitely impacts interest in GAA. There is hurling too, but that's a whole different argument.....

Slaughtneil aren't small at all. from up the Five Mile straight, to near Dungiven out to Garvagh and right into the top of Maghera is not a small catchment area.
Added into the equation that some have left the area are happy to take their children back to play.
TBH thats why I happy to see Newbridge winning a championship, now theres a club with a tight catchment area.

Surely Ryan out to Garvagh would be Swatragh territory would it not?

you would think that but without starting to name family surnames there are players from almost Carhill playing for Slaughneil. There is also some from the Kilrea side of Upperlands heading to there also.
Look I'm not saying this is anything to do with the club/clubs and like Glen currently there is a percentage of success hunters chasing glory for their little darlings.
I just wary of how we stop the inevitable creation of big 4 or 5 massive clubs with the chasing pack always chasing.
Are the CB doing enough at primary school level with coaching etc. especially when smaller clubs are struggling so badly for numbers?
Would there be an appetite for North,South, East, West Derry league for u14/u16/minor during winter to give lads from smaller clubs an opportunity. 24/30 of a squad instead of just development squads of 24. c

It was ever thus with Slau,ghtneil. You couldn't define a catchment area but you knew as soon as a child was born into a Slaughtneil family they'd be pulling on the maroon and white. Wasn't an issue in the first 50 years of the club when they won very little, shouldn't be an issue now.

Born into a Slaughneil family but also included are born into a family...😂😂.