Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Brendan]

All rounds finish on the day apart from finals

[outsiderlookingin]

What way is minor championship done? And who are favs to get to final

[GTP]

What way is minor championship done? And who are favs to get to final

The complete fixtures are on the Derry website if you can find them. First against second in A1 and third against fourth for A2. Both at quarter final stage.

[quit yo jibbajabba]

What way is minor championship done? And who are favs to get to final

Dungiven Magherafelt could be a fine semi with Bellaghy v Ballinderry/Lavey in the other one, with apologies to those I excluded. Have I covered myself well enough 😄

Magherafelt won All Ireland Feile at this age possibly so could be hard stopped

[Newbridge Exile]

What way is minor championship done? And who are favs to get to final

Dungiven Magherafelt could be a fine semi with Bellaghy v Ballinderry/Lavey in the other one, with apologies to those I excluded. Have I covered myself well enough 😄

Magherafelt won All Ireland Feile at this age possibly so could be hard stopped

Magherafelt will take a bit of beating but Dungiven and Bellaghy are very strong this year also

[HonDerry]

I would add Lavey to that mix as well.

So Bellaghy, Dungiven, Lavey and Magherafelt.

Four teams who have been in the final 4 for most of the last 5 to 7 years.

On another note, it was disappointing to hear on the Derry Gaels podcast that the league winners weren't presented with their cups after the final game. Another example of the club league in Derry not been given the recognition it deserves.

It also seemed that most of the games between the so-called stronger clubs were played early in the league, which left the last few rounds fairly predictable which is something that no-one wants to see.

Two things I think the County Board should look at for next year.

[marty34]

What way is minor championship done? And who are favs to get to final

Dungiven Magherafelt could be a fine semi with Bellaghy v Ballinderry/Lavey in the other one, with apologies to those I excluded. Have I covered myself well enough 😄

Magherafelt won All Ireland Feile at this age possibly so could be hard stopped

Magherafelt will take a bit of beating but Dungiven and Bellaghy are very strong this year also

Derry minor winners usually do well in St. Paul's Tournament in December.

[Hoof Hearted]

What way is minor championship done? And who are favs to get to final

Dungiven Magherafelt could be a fine semi with Bellaghy v Ballinderry/Lavey in the other one, with apologies to those I excluded. Have I covered myself well enough 😄

Magherafelt won All Ireland Feile at this age possibly so could be hard stopped

Magherafelt will take a bit of beating but Dungiven and Bellaghy are very strong this year also

Derry minor winners usually do well in St. Paul's Tournament in December.

18 titles, by miles the most successful county

[marty34]

Early days in who'll win minor but, in Derry, it's a good standard. Usually well matched up teams in the later rounds.


Magherafelt have been winning a lot at underage this past 30 years. Huge numbers in their lower underage teams. Always playing in the higher 'A' sections also.  Won Féile again this year.


But they really need to push on at senior level now. As I say, always huge talent but only one senior championship in recent years. I thought they'd push on and win three or four but seemed happy with just one.


Be interesting to see how they go this year. A lot of people tipping them but I can't comment as I haven't seen them at all in the league.


But a big year for them. 

[Brendan]

Coleraine and Faughanvale giving a good example of why the leagues need restructured tonight. 2 poor teams, Coleraine deserved winners but average age of that team would be close to 40 and they arent going to improve any time soon to be going into division 1

[HonDerry]

Early days in who'll win minor but, in Derry, it's a good standard. Usually well matched up teams in the later rounds.
Magherafelt have been winning a lot at underage this past 30 years. Huge numbers in their lower underage teams. Always playing in the higher 'A' sections also.  Won Féile again this year.
But they really need to push on at senior level now. As I say, always huge talent but only one senior championship in recent years. I thought they'd push on and win three or four but seemed happy with just one.
Be interesting to see how they go this year. A lot of people tipping them but I can't comment as I haven't seen them at all in the league.
But a big year for them. 

I think you're overlooking three things there. Maybe on purpose 

1. Slaughtneil weren't finished in 2020. They were caught by a very good Glen team in 2019, who maybe thought that a semi-final win had won them the championship. Slaughtneil proved in 2020 that they were far from done.
2. Then came a brilliant Glen team that eventually won an All-Ireland in 2023. They had won four Ulster Minor titles, that generation had now come of age. Conor Glass was back from Australia and Malachy O'Rourke at the helm. Still a huge threat for any team
3 Then came Newbridge. Had been pushing to make a break through and also a club with a great tradition. They were battle-hardened from years of winning very little, but they learned how to make the most of every player. Can they do 3 in a row in their centenary year.

Magherafelt have always been successful at underage level, but as I've said before, it's only in more recent years that they've started doing it consistently at minor level. Now that those lads are coming through just like Glen did, you would expect senior success to follow.

But "should" is the important word. Nothing is ever guaranteed in a county final. I think we can look forward to a championship that is as competitive as last year. And Lavey are definitely worth watching too.

[LoughNeagh]

Coleraine and Faughanvale giving a good example of why the leagues need restructured tonight. 2 poor teams, Coleraine deserved winners but average age of that team would be close to 40 and they arent going to improve any time soon to be going into division 1

Maybe so but nice to see Coleraine back. Not crying about Faughanvale going down!

[Cluborcountywhynotboth]

Coleraine and Faughanvale giving a good example of why the leagues need restructured tonight. 2 poor teams, Coleraine deserved winners but average age of that team would be close to 40 and they arent going to improve any time soon to be going into division 1

Took the game in myself, two poor enough sides as you say but think your being  bit hyperbolic. Few older heads in coleraine team alright but also a few younger lads. Faughanvale decimated by injuries all year and one of the boys telling me they lost their whole full back line even from Sundays game. Your man Sweeney a big loss to them at full back and you could tell by how easily they conceded them goals in the first half. Coleraine will struggle rightly at senior but fair play to them for getting back there. I'd agree with you about the leagues need restructuring but don't forget why it was changed in the first place, it wasn't to help the likes of Coleraine or Faughanvale that's for sure. Some 'historical' clubs ego will never let them vote for a smaller league as they might find themselves in intermediate very quickly.

[GTP]

I am presuming the relegation play off has occurred, didn't see it in fixture list or in the results on the website. League and Championship remain seperate so Coleraine are Division 1 but will not be Senior Championship unless they win Intermediate.

[Ryan O]

A disgrace that these games weren't played on a weekend and well publicised. These are massive games for clubs and big impacts for next year obviously.


What do we propose should happen with the leagues or what improvements would help?