Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[HonDerry]

On yesterday's games, a comfortable win for Slaughtneil.

Ballinderry started well but I thought they fizzled out after about 15 minutes. Gareth McKinless worked very hard, particularly as it was his first game in months but it was hard to pick out much beyond that. I imagine they'll be happy enough to have reached a quarter-final. They're a young team that needs another year or two to mature.

Slaughtneil, on the other hand, were impressive. Brendan, Shane and Paudi were all good, and I thought Shea Cassidy and Conor Coyle showed well too.

Then came Bellaghy and Newbridge a brilliant game for the neutral. I'm not sure how Bellaghy will feel looking back on it. Some of their mistakes were crazy, gifting Newbridge a goal at the end of the first half, the kickout at the end of the second, and twice kicking the ball over the sideline. And yet they  nearly had it won three times. So would you be proud of the best championship performance in 2 years or devasted that they let it away. Or both!

Newbridge got the rub of the green but they took their scores when they needed them. Bellaghy had plenty of good performances, notably Damon Gallagher, Peter Cassidy, Luke and Charlie Diamond. The usual suspects stood out for Newbridge, Oisin Doherty, Conor McAteer, Eamonn and Sean Young.

As for the ref in the Newbridge Bellaghy game, see my previous point about Canney letting the game be about the players. I was seeing too much of this ref making it about himself in this one, e.g. Does he always have to do his trademark free for holding in the first 15 minutes, particularly in a game like this when it is down to the wire, or not listening to his linesman who maybe had a better view of the Peter Cassidy 2 point free.

Overall we had two brilliant games of championship football over the weekend.

[ClubScene13]

Have Lavey got over the line against any of the supposed "big 4" in Derry? Just from an outside perspective they seem to be the gallant losers every year, will never lie down even though underdogs but can't get over the line either

[HonDerry]

Is this rage bait

There were top 4 I believe in 2022 and contested the final in 2018 if memory serves.

[GTP]

No one has broken up the big 4 since the 2018 final between Coleraine and Lavey. The loss of the Downeys set Lavey back a bit. I'll predict it now so everyone forgets by next year but I think this will be last chance for the current Sleacht Néill side could give others the opportunity to spring from the chasing pack.

[Estimator]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Chrissy in as the U20 manager to cut his teeth before he is inenvitably appointed senior manager in a year or two

Just listened to the Monday Club podcast - doesn't sound like he has any interest in taking any Derry (or Slaughtneil) teams.

[Derry Optimist]

I,too,like Estimator,listened to the Monday Club Podcast and came to the same definite conclusion that Chrissy McKaigue, at least in the short term, does not propose to apply for any managerial or coaching vacancies for either Slaughtneil or any Derry County team at any level. He seemed to suggest, and understandably so,that he found it difficult to manage or coach any players that he might still be playing with or against. So,perhaps, he would like to take over the Derry Senior side in five or six years time when there would be less of a  conflict of interest.To me it would appear that he is now prepared to coach or manage another county or club outside his native  heath in the incoming year. He would undoubtedly be a decided asset to whichever county or club that he goes to.

As we prepare for the County Senior club semi finals, Ciaran Meenagh and Co ( I do not know who exactly Co is!!)  must have a fair idea of which new players have passed the road test of Club championship football sufficiently as to deserve an opportunity to be called up to the Senior County panel. Any suggestions out there who would be in that bracket?

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Rumour Chrissy's heading down the country along with an old friend. Watch this space eh

Some boys are all about the county team hi, don't let me stop yous but I would rather focus on the club scene for the fine spectacle it is in itself, surely Derry will come along soon enough again

[Ryan O]

I,too,like Estimator,listened to the Monday Club Podcast and came to the same definite conclusion that Chrissy McKaigue, at least in the short term, does not propose to apply for any managerial or coaching vacancies for either Slaughtneil or any Derry County team at any level. He seemed to suggest, and understandably so,that he found it difficult to manage or coach any players that he might still be playing with or against. So,perhaps, he would like to take over the Derry Senior side in five or six years time when there would be less of a  conflict of interest.To me it would appear that he is now prepared to coach or manage another county or club outside his native  heath in the incoming year. He would undoubtedly be a decided asset to whichever county or club that he goes to.

As we prepare for the County Senior club semi finals, Ciaran Meenagh and Co ( I do not know who exactly Co is!!)  must have a fair idea of which new players have passed the road test of Club championship football sufficiently as to deserve an opportunity to be called up to the Senior County panel. Any suggestions out there who would be in that bracket?

I'm going for brand new faces not lads that are about the squad already:
Alex Doherty
Paddy Mc Larnon
Joe Dillon
Dara Doherty.

I'm not sure of this but just surmising, is Shea Mc Guckian the goalkeeper experiment now finished do we think? Can we have a number 2 keeper who isn't a keeper being there as reliable option?
I'm not judging this on last year because he done well for a very difficult task.

Louis Regan didn't get any game time for club or county this year.
Do counties now carry 3 and 4 keepers.
Is Ben Mc Kinless and possibly Kilrea Aidan Gillan options here.
Would any lad give be prepared to commit to that.

Lynch by a distance is the best goalkeeper in Derry

[Sonny Joe]

A good weekends football, have to say club championship football is so enjoyable. Thankfully it has it rightful place on the Gaa season without county distractions. Newbridge/Bellaghy & Lavey/Magherafelt the games of the weekend. Lavey fortunate M'Felt left their shooting boots behind them. Must have used all their shooting accuracy in the friendly with St Eunans. Lavey gave a good account of themselves, but would they not consider moving the ball with the foot more, I feel they could be more dangerous adopting more kicking to create one v ones? Bellaghy will feel hard done by, but in the end they have only themselves to blame for loosing this game. Newbridge playing to the death, what was the keeper doing not kicking long, the brilliant Young finish for the goal, this game had it all, a super c'ship game. Bridge have brilliant pace with lots of cuts to wrong foot defenders. They play a good brand of football. I'm led to believe Bellaghy officially objected to Quinn as a ref prior to the game, they must not have trusted him. He gave the Bridge a tap over free for what his now signature decision of thinking he see's a defender fouling a forward off the ball from 60 yds. He does this literally in all his cship games, he needs to wise up with that. The two pointer not given, I was sitting in the stand beside a number of Bridge supporters right behind the shot, and they believed it to be a 2 pts. The margins that decide games. In a 50/50 game refs hold the balance. The semi's this weekend. Magherafelt to bt S'neil, Newbridge to bt Glen, as I don't think Glens defence can hold the Bridges attack, however this is a 50/50 game, who is the ref?

[Maghera was Black]

I think its the year the Martin's finally complete the trilogy and get that long awaited intermediate title. I think only a handful of clubs have won all 3 of senior, intermediate and junior titles... Eoghan Rua, Glen, Glenullin and the Guigan?

[oakleafgael]

I think its the year the Martin's finally complete the trilogy and get that long awaited intermediate title. I think only a handful of clubs have won all 3 of senior, intermediate and junior titles... Eoghan Rua, Glen, Glenullin and the Guigan?

Slaughneil?
Loup?
Ballinascreen?

[screenexile]

Screen have won all 3. I think Reserve teams have won Junior and Intermediate championships in their time.

[Link]

Good game last night in the reserve semi at slaughtneil. A number of quality 2 pointers from both sides.

[HonDerry]

I,too,like Estimator,listened to the Monday Club Podcast and came to the same definite conclusion that Chrissy McKaigue, at least in the short term, does not propose to apply for any managerial or coaching vacancies for either Slaughtneil or any Derry County team at any level. He seemed to suggest, and understandably so,that he found it difficult to manage or coach any players that he might still be playing with or against. So,perhaps, he would like to take over the Derry Senior side in five or six years time when there would be less of a  conflict of interest.To me it would appear that he is now prepared to coach or manage another county or club outside his native  heath in the incoming year. He would undoubtedly be a decided asset to whichever county or club that he goes to.

As we prepare for the County Senior club semi finals, Ciaran Meenagh and Co ( I do not know who exactly Co is!!)  must have a fair idea of which new players have passed the road test of Club championship football sufficiently as to deserve an opportunity to be called up to the Senior County panel. Any suggestions out there who would be in that bracket?

I'm going for brand new faces not lads that are about the squad already:
Alex Doherty
Paddy Mc Larnon
Joe Dillon
Dara Doherty.

I'm not sure of this but just surmising, is Shea Mc Guckian the goalkeeper experiment now finished do we think? Can we have a number 2 keeper who isn't a keeper being there as reliable option?
I'm not judging this on last year because he done well for a very difficult task.

Louis Regan didn't get any game time for club or county this year.
Do counties now carry 3 and 4 keepers.
Is Ben Mc Kinless and possibly Kilrea Aidan Gillan options here.
Would any lad give be prepared to commit to that.

Lynch by a distance is the best goalkeeper in Derry

Alex Doherty - agreed
Paddy Mc Larnon - agreed
Joe Dillon - agreed
Dara Doherty - needs to go to u20s to see how he fares.

And the following
Oisin McWilliams
Oisin Doherty
Ciaran McFaul - would be interested to know where he stands on a return
Ryan McNicholl - He may have been up there as part of a development group but needs a proper go at it

As for keepers the 2 men you would want to back up Lynch are both kicking ball in the states, Jack Cassidy and Karl Campbell.

[Stickman]

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