Slaughtneil duo link up with Derry

Mark McGuigan
PIC Sportsfile

Derry hurling manager Tom McLean has received a boost ahead of their league campaign with the news that Slaughtneil's Mark McGuigan and Meehaul McGrath have joined his squad.  This comes a week after Ruairi McCloskey and the Hinphey brothers called time on their county careers.

Slaughtneil have had a balancing act for the past two seasons with their senior managers having a strong relationship but fitting in another team can be difficult.  Speaking to The Final Whistle McLean had hoped more would join the panel.

Derry begin their NHL campaign against neighbours Antrim at Owenbeg on Sunday 14th February.

Three players who won't be part of his plans are Brendan Rogers and the McKaigue brothers who have already committed to the Derry senior football team.  It has been difficult to get players to commit to both codes due to the amount of training involved.  

Kieran McKeever spent two years playing hurling after he finished playing county football and was nominated for an all-star and Brendan Rogers was the goal machine up front for Derry in the NHL before he decided to throw in lot in with Brian McIver's football squad last season.

The debate over dual players has always been in the GAA and it will almost certainly remain a talking point.