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So sad to hear about the passing of Benny Ward ,a great hurler for Lavey and Derry and an absolute gentleman as well RIP Benny

Sad news indeed. A true Hurling Gael. Rip Benny

[Mark McGeehan]

4of the 5 games have referees appointed.

Greenlough vs Eoghan Rua Mark McGeehan
Glen vs Newbridge Barry Cassidy
Craigbane vs Desertmartin Sean Curran

2026 Junior Championship Final Gregory McWilliams

Everyone can take a sigh of Relief, Quinn isn't involved.

Bridge have to be worried about midfield for the next round Bellaghy pressed the kickouts well and won a serious amount of ball when kicked long.

The play just before half time and a couple of balls they put out over the sideline in the second half will cause them nightmares when they look back on it!

Agree on this point. Bellaghy really squeezed the kick outs and Newbridge couldn't win break ball nor clean ball. Sean young in particular had a super game. Charlie Diamond scored a couple of great 2 points. Anyone know why Declan Cassidy didn't start because he was very good in helping the game turn in Bellaghy's favour. The goal before half time was a massive score. From a position of being in attack,to losing possession and within 20 conceding a goal at the other side disastrous

Newbridge done well to dig that one out but from neutral I thought Bellaghy deserved it. The arsing about before half time was the killer in the end.

What about the Bellaghy two pointer in the first half that wasn't given, 100% it was over.  Umpire gave it wide and the lineman signalled that it was a score, also told Bellaghy management it was over.
Went to tell Benny Quinn and he waved him away and gave the wide. Very poor not to at least stop the game for a quick conversation.

Very hard to tell from where we were sitting. But it's not the first time you've had an issue with this Referee. I thought it was the best championship game of the season so far and if I am being honest,I thought he added in making the game as exciting as it was.

You'd love to know who does the SFC fixtures.
Steelstown vs Kilrea on Thursday,
Nothing Friday
Lavey vs Swatragh on Saturday,
Glenullin vs Slaughtneil 4pm and Bellaghy vs Dungiven 6pm Sunday. All at Owenbeg.

What about:
Saturday 5pm and 7pm for Steelstown/Kilrea and Lavey/Swatragh
Sunday 2pm and 4pm for other two not make sense?

Have they not discovered that players prefer not to play on a Thursday or last thing on a Sunday yet?

Here lad, you thinking the Derry SFC is on sky sports? 😂
Clubs request days & times and the fixture makers have to accommodate.

Championship round dates out about 4 months and the last two weekends have been free and you think our county board would accommodate a club request?

Rightfully informed that all other fixtures in this football round involve dual clubs so extra day would be only fair. They will be exhausted after the absolute blockbuster hurling weekend we have in front of us.

County board should ask Ryan O what time and date fixtures suit him best in future.

if you think its fair on any player to take them to Owenbeg on a Thursday for a 7:30pm throw in then you haven't been around many teams.
Some lads maybe working in Belfast or anywhere that requires an hours drive home finishing at 4:30pm.
5:30pm before they're home and they need to be in Owenbeg at 6:45pm latest? Thats some preparation for they're biggest game of the year.

Don't be thinking it out but, jump straight in and do your best smart arse impression.

You'd love to know who does the SFC fixtures.
Steelstown vs Kilrea on Thursday,
Nothing Friday
Lavey vs Swatragh on Saturday,
Glenullin vs Slaughtneil 4pm and Bellaghy vs Dungiven 6pm Sunday. All at Owenbeg.

What about:
Saturday 5pm and 7pm for Steelstown/Kilrea and Lavey/Swatragh
Sunday 2pm and 4pm for other two not make sense?

Have they not discovered that players prefer not to play on a Thursday or last thing on a Sunday yet?

Here lad, you thinking the Derry SFC is on sky sports? 😂
Clubs request days & times and the fixture makers have to accommodate.

Championship round dates out about 4 months and the last two weekends have been free and you think our county board would accommodate a club request?

Rightfully informed that all other fixtures in this football round involve dual clubs so extra day would be only fair. They will be exhausted after the absolute blockbuster hurling weekend we have in front of us.

County board should ask Ryan O what time and date fixtures suit him best in future.

if you think its fair on any player to take them to Owenbeg on a Thursday for a 7:30pm throw in then you haven't been around many teams.
Some lads maybe working in Belfast or anywhere that requires an hours drive home finishing at 4:30pm.
5:30pm before they're home and they need to be in Owenbeg at 6:45pm latest? Thats some preparation for they're biggest game of the year.

Don't be thinking it out but, jump straight in and do your best smart arse impression.

I like playing devil's advocate and in this instance,my argument to this point,is that club teams train during the week at a similar time so I don't think this should be an issue. Unless,as a kilrea man,you are looking early excuses

Lavey V F'vale. Lavey by 8
Kilrea V Newbridge Bridge by 9
Glenullin V Loup Loup by 3
Swatragh V Steelstown Swa' by 3
Bellaghy V Dungiven. Surs by 5
Glen V Banagher Glen by 7
B'Derry V B' Screen. B'Derry by 8
S'neil V M'Felt M'Felt by 1

On the topic of the lack of coverage of all things Gaa at club level in Derry,I find it very disappointing. But surely this is a massive opportunity for someone who is a Fanatic within the county to create a position for himself or herself for that matter. Whether it be someone in university or as a Second job,I'd imagine it could be something that could lead to bigger things. Cahair in particular has done very well out of journalism and Mal has done reasonably well also. I miss the mid Ulster observer,I miss reading the coverage in the Derry post-from what this paper was to what it is now is embarrassing. Reports on Club action needs  action asap.

I agree its a completely thankless job and always remember that when they are refereeing games theres a fair chance their club is playing somewhere else so they miss that also.

There are numerous young refs in Derry and having took underage teams find them very approachable lads, but the old guard you are hinting of is just streaming with arrogance at times. Players are going to be frustrated with decisions and feeling show, verbal abuse it obviously not the be tolerated but verbal disappointment isn't banned yet.

When the new rules were introduced I do think it made massive difference in respecting refs, but I do think respect is a two way street.
Shouting, dictating and gesturing to players about fouls or making them stand for a scolding and a yellow card is schoolyard stuff, and won't help.

The Referee in question is Notorious for moving the ball forward,this has been going on for years. So I find it mind boggling why players and management even attempt to speak back to him. Tbh I find him to be the most consistent Referee in Derry as you know what you are going to get with him and there is no back doors with him

Can't agree with that at all. When you see a referee park in the closest space to the gate, doesn't use the changing room supplied. Speaks to absolutely nobody pre match, at half time and leaves immediately.
He know himself firstly theres a high chance of controversy and secondly that people will potentially blame him.

Thats not normal for the vast majority of refs in Derry. Arrive early don't leave straight away give an opinion on the game. Referees are GAA men like the rest of us and I genuinely don't think theres any out with a dislike for individual clubs.
The ref in question gets very little respect, he shows absolutely no respect to players. Coming to a game speaking to nobody and going home again for £40 is a miserable way to spend an evening.

This sounds like another Personal attack to me. Imagine a Referee,after taking abuse for 60-65 minutes not wanting to hang around for another 15-30 and take more abuse for some of the decisions he made. Especially from people who think like you! In most games there is a level of controversy of some kind so why would you hang around. And as Stickman says,we don't know what these Referee's lifestyle is like so if they come kitted out that is their choice. But £40 wouldn't motivate me to do it,that is a definite.

I agree its a completely thankless job and always remember that when they are refereeing games theres a fair chance their club is playing somewhere else so they miss that also.

There are numerous young refs in Derry and having took underage teams find them very approachable lads, but the old guard you are hinting of is just streaming with arrogance at times. Players are going to be frustrated with decisions and feeling show, verbal abuse it obviously not the be tolerated but verbal disappointment isn't banned yet.

When the new rules were introduced I do think it made massive difference in respecting refs, but I do think respect is a two way street.
Shouting, dictating and gesturing to players about fouls or making them stand for a scolding and a yellow card is schoolyard stuff, and won't help.

The Referee in question is Notorious for moving the ball forward,this has been going on for years. So I find it mind boggling why players and management even attempt to speak back to him. Tbh I find him to be the most consistent Referee in Derry as you know what you are going to get with him and there is no back doors with him

John Mc Keever to Wolfe Tones?  Last I heard there were two or three big clubs talking to him PJ but it looks like he couldnt resist the challenge to bring the youth through at Bellaghy and turn them into credible challengers once again.

it'll be a long time before Bellaghy compete again. They have more chance of getting relegated in the next few years. They even lost to Draperstown in the u21s last night.

What does tonight's result say about your lads braveheart??

Was just thinking that myself. He seems to think Bellaghy are in bother, yet his beloved Swatragh seem to keep getting beat by same teams in cship. A lot of his posts have a dig at Bellaghy. He was very quiet after their cship defeat. Maybe they will stick to hurling now.
Well done to screen.

We always looked in control until a late penalty gave Screen the impetus to win it. In fact other than from frees I can't remember screen scoring from play. It just goes to prove,that the best team doesn't always win. A very good crowd at it for a Baltic night,most of whom came from the Swa'.

Another success for Magherafelt tonight. Some good football on display from both sides despite the conditions. I'd say a few of these lads be on County duty next year for the Doire U.17's.

There was a couple on the Derry U17 team this year that would have played last night. I know it's underage and anything can happen but Derry should have a strong U17 side next year. They won their respective U15 and U16 Ulster competitions.

At the Minute,Derry underage is probably at its strongest in a long long time. Its very competitive also,which will surely make us 1 of the main contenders for Ulster this year. A great chance for Boyle,who I'm hearing has never been a manager of a team so far in his career as he has only been in backroom teams.

Did Mickey not manage St Pauls Kilrea to U-16 All-Ireland Vocational Schools title?

Yes,

Another success for Magherafelt tonight. Some good football on display from both sides despite the conditions. I'd say a few of these lads be on County duty next year for the Doire U.17's.

There was a couple on the Derry U17 team this year that would have played last night. I know it's underage and anything can happen but Derry should have a strong U17 side next year. They won their respective U15 and U16 Ulster competitions.

At the Minute,Derry underage is probably at its strongest in a long long time. Its very competitive also,which will surely make us 1 of the main contenders for Ulster this year. A great chance for Boyle,who I'm hearing has never been a manager of a team so far in his career as he has only been in backroom teams.

John Mc Keever to Wolfe Tones?  Last I heard there were two or three big clubs talking to him PJ but it looks like he couldnt resist the challenge to bring the youth through at Bellaghy and turn them into credible challengers once again.

it'll be a long time before Bellaghy compete again. They have more chance of getting relegated in the next few years. They even lost to Draperstown in the u21s last night.

I am not surprised at today's result. The club who never won it before,lost. Magherafelt deserved the victory because they were the better team on the day and that is all they needed to do. Unfortunately, Glen on the other hand had it won during the week and did too much talking.

Quite excited for this weekend! There should be some interesting match ups! McFaul Vs D. Heavron, JD Vs kearnsey and Dougie Vs Emmet mcguckin among many others!
Think it'll be quite a tight game but I think and hope glen's running game will be too strong!

This year has seen a number of surprise results. In This years senior final I predict a similar pattern. Magherafelt to win by 4pts. I've studied the teams,the pitch,the preparation and the Referee and I conclude Rossa will win.