THE JOURNEY TO GLORY

Fr Collins and John McLaughlin Cups

The Slaughtneil Treble 

When the founder members of Slaughtneil GAC met for the first time in 1953, little did they know the animal they were about to create.  From humble beginnings all those years ago, Slaughtneil has now established itself at the GAA’s top table.  

Over sixty years later, the club is thriving and everyone involved is living the dream.  At the start of each season every GAA team across the nation aspires to win a championship; in Slaughtneil the same focus applies.  The difference this year was that all three senior teams achieved those goals.  It wasn’t always like this. 



In mid-September in Owenbeg, Christopher McKaigue was the recipient of the Fr. Collins Cup, clinching three-in-a-row.  McKaigue and his colleagues are enjoying every second of it.  Current hurling manager Mickey McShane describes the current crop as a “once in a lifetime group”, but before that, Slaughtneil endured many barren years with very little success.   

That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the many men who played during that era, many returning to coach the players that now backbone the current team.  This tradition carries on with current and former players currently involved in coaching the next generation, passing on the message they got from their coaches.  There are countless others like them. 

Sunday week ago in Banagher, camogie captain Louise Dougan held aloft another cup.  Slaughtneil were county champions for a second time.  The name on the cup was also significant, that of Martin Mulholland - a terrific servant of the club.  I’m sure he was a proud man looking down on this beloved club basking in glory.   

It wasn’t always like this for the camogs either, twelve months earlier they walked up the steps to the stage in Slaughtneil Hall empty handed.  They ran into an Eoghan Rua team at the peak of their powers and looked on as the men went on a provincial crusade.  They knew they would be back, there was unfinished business. 

On a personal level, captain Louise Dougan had to endure time away from the game with a knee injury.  The rehab was all worthwhile as her team proudly walked through the crowd and up the steps to the stage in Slaughtneil Hall.  Persistence always pays off. 

As the Slaughtneil fans departed Banagher and headed for Celtic Park, the chat in all the cars would have been about the treble and word would have filtered through to the footballers that it was now up to them to complete the historic feat.   

The football final started off very low key, but Mickey Moran and Sean McGoldrick are probably two of the most composed managers around so it’s no surprise their charges display these traits as well.  Sé McGuigan’s goal sparked the game into life, putting Slaughtneil in control and they were supposed to push on.  The opposite happened and Coleraine then took the game to the champions.   

During the barren years on the hurling pitch, the Emmets were living in the shadows of Lavey and Kevin Lynch’s, often ending up on the wrong side of some heavy defeats.  In the ‘big ball’ game, the ten year wait from 2004 to 2014 was a litany of one point defeats and hard luck stories.  Slaughtneil made a habit of losing tight games. 

With the clock ticking towards full time, Coleraine were putting the squeeze on but Slaughtneil held firm and got across the line.  It was now official, the treble was complete.   The footballers now possess confidence, composure and they play right to the whistle.  They don’t push the panic button and have now got the knack of winning tight games. 

So following on from Chrissy McKaigue and Louise Dougan, it was the turn of Francis McEldowney to ‘get up them stairs’ and receive the cup; John McLaughlin was staying put for another season.  

At the homecoming and with all three county senior trophies on the stage in Slaughtneil Hall, chairman Sean McGuigan addressed the crowd.  He mentioned the men of 1953 and questioned if they ever dreamt of days like this.  The people who ran the club in the interim years never would have envisaged success like it either. John Joe Kearney referred to those who have pulled on the maroon and white over the years and never experienced success.  

From 1953 until 2015, what has changed? There doesn’t seem to be any specific secret, but a combination of different aspects. 

During the week we caught up with a few of the Slaughtneil people to get their comments on the success.  One source commented about now having a "lifetime of looking back and smiling" and quite simply the word “equality - all codes, boys and girls”.

Current hurling selector Dermot Doherty commented on what it means to the club.  “It means everything to the people who worked unselfishly for 20 years with only sporadic success until recently when it has all come together.”

Former player, secretary and current development officer Jimmy McMullan also gave his take on the recent successes.

“It’s an outstanding historic achievement accompanied by a great buzz and euphoria which has re-energised our club and people following on from the dizzy heights achieved last year”, McMullan outlined.

Many people have asked how did the recent success come to fruition.  McMullan proudly added, “This didn't happen overnight. It is testament to many years of dedication, hard work and commitment from everyone at the club; committee, players, coaches, backroom teams, supporters and all others that were involved in any way, big or small. One club, three codes”.

When you drive into Emmet Park, the impressive facilities are there to be seen, a hugely important ingredient into team preparation and something that so many people have invested time and energy into.  

Every night of the week the grounds are full of youngsters at all ages in all codes.  The mentors and coaches of these children are another huge factor, nurturing their skills.  Camogie manager Dominic McKinley paid tribute to this group of people for the club’s current success.  

The amount of events that go on in the Slaughtneil community, many away from the field of play.  Events like fundraising draws, big breakfasts, Scor, traditional music and more recently the cycling fever that hit Emmet Park this year. 

The Barcelona soccer team have a motto “Més que un club - More than a club”.  Barcelona has more pubs, chapels and post offices than Slaughtneil.  They also have a more illustrious roll of honour, but the parallels are much the same. 

Between 1953 and 2015, Slaughtneil went from being just an idea in the making to being one of the most well-known GAA clubs in the country.  In the interim years so many people have put their shoulder to the wheel and the same people will be very proud today as Slaughtneil are now “more than a club”. 

These unsung heroes have been paid back in bucketloads over the past few years.  Watching Louise Dougan carry the Martin Mulholland Cup into Slaughtneil Hall, seeing ‘Sammy’ Bradley kick a monster score to win an Ulster title or witnessing the hurlers complete their three in a row.  This is what it is all about, the things you dream about when you start playing at U8 and U10.

When the 2016 season begins the fields will again be full of youngsters aiming to one day walk up Slaughtneil Hall with a county title. Not all will get there but it won’t be for the want of trying. 

Are we running away from the basics?

The game and society is changing forever and always. The GAA have taken great strides, but have we forgotten to reinforce the simple stuff in Gaelic Football? 

In the past children were hugely active in the playground at school. They played tag, hide ‘n’ seek etc and got all the exercise they needed. Times have changed. To compensate for this, the GAA Coaching Hierarchy began to put a huge emphasis on ABCs at primary school level. Agility, Balance and Coordination.

So in an era where the internet, social media and video games are highly accessible, youth officers and coaches have rolled out a very well structured coaching scheme to teach kids basic movement and exercise skills.

However there is another worrying trend creeping into our game. How many players can kick a long pass accurately? How many players can catch a high ball in a ruck of players? Can they put the ball over the bar on a regular basis?

After watching and analysing football over the past few months, it is interesting to see how much our game has changed.  That said, when the business end of the championship comes around, more often than not the team with the most skillful players comes out on top.  Especially teams with players who can carry out these skills in a pressure cooker environment.

Kerry’s decision to put Kieran Donaghy into full forward transformed their 2006 season. It was back to the era of Bomber Liston, Jimmy Keaveney etc. Last year when  they were struggling against Mayo, it was once again ‘Star’ who came in and changed the dynamic of the game.  It gave Kerry another option.  Within a few weeks, Sam was heading back to the Kingdom.

However, for this to happen you need two things…..a strong target man who can win his own ball and players who can direct a good pass into the full forward line.

In your club U14 team do you have players who can pass the ball accurately? How many forwards in your U16 team can score regularly from play? Can your midfielders, full back and full forward win a high ball against their opponent?

There are so many other things creeping into our game. Third midfielder, two man full forward line, blanket defence, breaking ball and turnovers. The list could go on.

These can all be very useful additions to a team’s armoury if they are looking for success or trying to play against a difficult opponent. But are we neglecting the basic skills of our game?

Consider the advantages of improving your long kicking.  Can your passes unlock a defence?  In the Derry senior final of 2012, Ballinderry won by a goal, Coilin Devlin latching onto a perfect pass from midfield by Enda Muldoon.  That bit of magic was the difference.

Consider the advantages of increasing your scoring rate, can you be another source of scores for your team?  I am thinking of the endless hours the top players spend away from the spotlight, on their club pitch equipped only with a bag of balls and their thoughts.

Consider improving your overhead catch. Can you win more kickouts or make a match winning catch at the edge of the square?  When St Patrick’s Maghera were dominating the college football scene, Adrian McGuckin spent considerable time coaching the high catch.  Picture the scene on that famous ‘back pitch’ with players arranged into groups of three and two balls peppering the middle man.  It’s hard to beat the basics.

To further this debate for another day.  Do Kerry have a higher standard of coach than other counties? Or is it simply the regular honing of their basic skills in the school yard, at the gable wall and replicating it until perfection?

Club v County Debate

The big debate in the Oak Leaf county this week surrounds fixtures.  The club championship was put on hold with the county senior team’s run in the qualifiers.  The Intermediate competition is well underway and over the next two weekends the rest of the club players will take to the senior and junior championship stage.

With the county minors also through to the All-Ireland Semi-Final later this month, there is somewhat of a fixtures dilemma.  Like many other counties, it’s a case of same story, different year and a clash between club and county.

In Derry there are two divided opinions.  In one camp you have those who feel it is unfair to ask the county minors to play championship games for their clubs the week before their big Croke Park date with Kerry.  On the other hand, club players across the county have been idle all summer, sitting around waiting on action.  It’s not an easy situation.

In my frustration and lack of accurate knowledge I often used to lay the blame at the door of the county CCC.  My outlook has changed somewhat.  With the long drawn out programme of county games, it is very difficult for the fixtures personnel to fit in club games.

Last year my club Slaughtneil competed in the Ulster football and hurling championships with a substantial number of dual players.  For these lads in particular it was tough to keep fresh and injury free.  With draws, extra time and replays the period from August to November was an extremely busy one.  It was a struggle at times but to be fair the Derry CCC organised the games as well as they possibly could.

Clubs are very important to us and that mentality must remain.  We should always be very proud of our roots.  However, it was also a terrific moment last month when Derry minors won the Ulster title, a first since 2002.  These young lads face a hectic schedule over the next few weeks.  As an association going forward we need to find a better balance.

I think those at the top level of GAA administration need to consider condensing the county season.  In some quarters, there are appeals to get rid of the provincial championships but in my opinion, this is not the solution.  The Ulster Football Championship is a terrific product and we don’t want it to disappear.

Why would we? It always produces highly competitive games and the Anglo Celt Cup is a most sought after prize.  Going up the hill in Clones on Ulster Final day is a moment to relish for players and supporters alike.  However, I feel it takes too long to run these competitions off.  The same applies to the other provinces.

Instead of taking four weeks to play the first round of the Ulster Championship, why not play two games on a Saturday, followed by two games on a Sunday?  A similar approach could be adopted for the semi-finals, freeing up a few weekends and giving fixture administrators much needed flexibility to cater for clubs.  This is a win-win situation for everyone. Well almost everyone.

The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes on match days is huge.  In Ulster, the events team demonstrate terrific organisational and event management skills to ensure the smooth running of proceedings  It doesn’t just happen.

The amended format would put a greater burden on those organisers.  Maybe what I have suggested is not logistically possible and needs tweaked, but we need to try something.  If the inter-county season can be shortened, even by four or five weeks it would make a huge difference to the club scene.

I feel that the qualifier system also needs refined. This is the difficult part.  We don’t want to deny counties like Fermanagh having a rollercoaster of a summer but on the other hand it only prolongs the inevitable exit to one of the big guns.

In summary, if the provincial championships and the qualifiers can be streamlined in some way it would give us more time for club games, with two different formats.  Either in the middle of the season on dedicated club weekends or just move the entire county season forward and start a separate club season in late summer.

This is a debate for another day.  The solution is not going to come overnight, but there are two very important facts in the GAA.  Our club defines us and is very important to our identity.  Secondly it is an honour to represent your county.  We need to find a better solution allowing Gaels to serve both masters.

As Derry’s twitter hashtag suggests #CandC – Club and County.

GAA Acrobatic Point

We’re not sure if this was a rehearsed training ground move but Casement’s Portglenone player Thomas O’Kane scored this spectacular point for St Mary’s Magherafelt in a warm-up game for last season’s MacRory Cup.

He rose highest to fist over the bar and at first we thought it was acrobatic overhead kick.



Sammy's Point - What a way to win!

What a dramatic finish to any championship game, never mind your club's first ever Ulster Final.  After analysing the game I spent a bit of time with Final Cut and added in a bit of Aviccii.  Here you go folks - Sammy's Point

Where did it all go wrong?

Before putting this blog entry together, I gave serious thought to the content but after what happened a well known intercounty footballer recently [Kevin Cass], I have given all the people mentioned in this blog entry aliases. I don't want to 'cross the line' and get removed from the panel.

It's half time in Celtic Park, it’s championship quarter final day and the dressing room resembles a war zone. 

The physio is treating Tony the midfielder on the bench. He suffered a back injury in the last kick-out of the half. On the other side, the team doctor tries to stop the blood pouring from Paddy, the centre back’s busted nose. Two players are blaming the referee, the man who struck Paddy should have been sent off.

In the shower area, Joe, the kitman brings out a fresh set of jerseys for the second half, the first set soaked from the deluge of rain. Once the juice, jaffa cakes and water have been distributed team manager Liam gathers his thoughts. How has his team ended up two points in arrears after dominating the midfield exchanges?

The scoreboard reads 0-7 to 0-5. Does he take off the two corner forwards? Does he play two men up front on their own to create more space? Are the corner backs not up to scratch? Half time doesn't last long and soon there will be a knock on the door, failure to be out on time will result in a fine. When the last two players return from the toilet, the manager addresses the troops.

It's time to find out exactly where the game is being lost. One of the management team takes out his iPhone. During the first half he has been keeping stats using Dartfish Easytag (see screenshot). They are winning at midfield and the forwards have only registered one wide. 

The problem is simple. Too much possession being lost, including 7 misplaced fist passes, elementary errors. For the second half Liam urges his team to get back to basics. We can’t have another series of failed attacks in the second half.

We have a strong midfield, a 'keeper with a great kick-out and a dangerous full forward line. We need to eradicate the simple mistakes and get the ball forward early. It is also stressed that the forwards need to keep making the runs to create space.

So within the space of 10 minutes a set of agitated players are now totally clear of what is required. This is the power of some structured feedback. A mindless ranting session at halftime can be replaced with a simple structured set of instructions for the second half. 

It doesn't need to be information overload as players are knackered and only take in limited information discussed during the interval.

From the screenshot, you can see quite a range of items. The person taking the stats, depending on how much practice they have had, can record quite a bit of information. However, remember no matter how many stats you take account of, the key is picking out the key ones to get across to the players.

As the players trot out for the second half they need to be totally clear of the plan for the second half. Championship games need players with a calm head, there is an increased chance of better decision making when the game is in the melting pot. Then at Tuesday night's session the information can be reinforced, giving the players a target for the next round.

Liam’s team will face the parish rivals in the semi final, whom they have not beaten in the last four meetings. This is definitely a half time period that will need calm heads and clear instruction.

Have you any experience of team feedback at half time? Let us know via the Comment Section below.

Follow is on @MidUlsterSport

Experience of Ballinderry or Emerging Kilrea?

“You certainly get value for money when you watch Kilrea”, was the comment of James Kielt when I was chatting to him during the summer. Kielt was spot on. Kilrea’s championship has been packed full of drama. Paul Morgan’s goalkeeping heroics against Magherafelt, the sendings off against Ballinderry, Emmet McKay’s penalty save against Banagher and Benny Quigg’s winning goal against Slaughtneil. That’s not even mentioning their spirited second half showing against Loup.

I have to admit, when they went down to 12 men against Ballinderry in the championship and lost the game, I reckoned that Banagher would end their season. They were in disarray. Ballinderry could absorb three suspensions to central players but not Kilrea. How wrong I was. I followed the Banagher game on twitter from a weekend break in Letterkenny and the availability of James Kielt and the fashion in which Peter Doherty regrouped his troops after the Lavey debacle, proved a masterstroke.

At Glenullin in the quarter final, Slaughtneil were in control of the game, but Benny Quigg’s goal proved the winner. The team I thought would have been an easy touch for Banagher had now put the Emmet’s out of the championship.

Driving home from work through Kilrea the past week, it’s hard not to notice the county final fever that has gripped the town. It reminds me of Slaughtneil in 2008. That year we played 7 championship games including two replays, but Ballinderry spoiled the end to our season. Our dramatic championship journey was in vain.

This Sunday, Kilrea will take the field for the first time in a county final. Kevin McGuckin will lead Ballinderry out of the other dressing room. As he jogs onto Celtic Park, joining him will be Conlan, McCusker, Conway, Gilligan and Muldoon from the team that ten years ago took the Derry title on route to the All-Ireland.

As Fabian Muldoon gets them into the warmup, they will be joined by Kevin ‘Moss’ McGuckin, Conor Wilkinson, Michael McIver, Martin Harney and Collie Devlin. Also factor in Connor Nevin, Ryan Scott and Declan Bell who are now seasoned championship players. The Shamrock’s have a great blend, with Ryan Bell, Dermot McGuckin, Aaron Devlin and Tony Martin the newest players in the mix.

Against Dungiven in the semi final, Ballinderry were cruising but took their foot off the pedal and gave them a lifeline into the game. With the game heading for the finale, the sides were level. Ballinderry, as they so often have done in the past, found an extra level and pushed on to win by five points.

They have done it so often. In 2006 v Slaughtneil at Glen, in 2008 v Slaughtneil in the final, in 2010 v Slaughtneil at Bellaghy, 2010 v Lavey at Greenlough and in 1995 in the Ulster Club against Errigal Ciaran. All stewards to end of match positions then enter Raymond Bell with two goals to win the game on a damp October Sunday at Ballinascreen. They never seem to panic; it’s a great trait to have. I remember ex-Crossmaglen manager Donal Murtagh saying that the first half was about making sure you were in the game, the second half is when you win it.

On Sunday when the game is in the mix will Ballinderry’s guile and experience prevail over the fresh new kids on the block? Or will Kilrea follow on from Coleraine, Loup and Slaughtneil by winning a title with a team with a relatively low average age? The average age of Ballinderry’s starting 15 for Sunday (from Derry Post likely lineups) is 26, Kilrea’s is 22.

Of the 8 people who predicted the game for this blog, we had one draw, one Kilrea win and six saying that the John McLaughlin will be heading for Shamrock Park. Here are the views of the pundits.

Paddy Downey (Bellaghy) - In my opinion Ballinderry will win John McLaughlin this year. I think that their greater experience at this stage will be key and also the fact that they have already defeated this up and coming Kilrea team in the championship gives them that extra belief and could put some doubt into the minds of the Kilrea players.

Ballinderry will not want to experience the same hurt as last year. Throughout the knock out stages of this year’s championship, whenever Ballinderry have been asked the question they have come out the other side with relative ease and in my opinion in Kevin 'Moss' McGuckin they have the player of the championship this year. I have no doubt that Kilrea will be contesting championship finals for the years to come but I just think that Ballinderry will shade this one in what could be a case of having to lose one before you win one for this group of Kilrea players. Prediction: Ballinderry

Enda Gormley (Glen) - Both sides will be putting a lot of emphasis on the midfield battle going into this game. Ballinderry will be asking why their midfield has faded badly in the large periods in the second half of the Bellaghy and Dungiven games while Kilrea have shown a marked improvement in this area in their last two games.

This for me is mainly down to a vast improvement in James Kielt’s game as he seems to have taken his work rate to a completely different level recently. For Kilrea to win they will need a much better return from their full forward line which would lack both the ball winning ability and creativity of Ballinderry’s attack. For me the greater potency of the Ballinderry attack will decide the game in their favour. Prediction: Ballinderry.

Mickey Drumm (Lavey) - It’s hard to look past Ballinderry for this one. They’ll be smarting from last year’s defeat to Coleraine so overconfidence shouldn’t be a problem. Their side has plenty of experience and have introduced a few younger players this year and they seem to be doing well.

Kilrea are seriously fit so if they can keep it close going into the last 10 they’ll be in with a great shout. Prediction: Ballinderry by 3.

Joe McCloskey (Slaughtneil) - Championship dictates that the two best teams reach the final, and on the evidence of their performances, this is probably true of this year’s final. Both teams will enter Celtic Park with an abundance of confidence that they can ferry the John McLaughlin cup back to their respective parishes.

The Kielt brothers are obviously the stand out players for Kilrea, but for me, it has been the half forward line that has laid the foundations for their victories this year. The Shamrocks suffered a blow with the loss of James Conway, but Kevin Moss [McGuckin] has more than made up for his absence with some powerful displays. The exuberance of a first final may drive Kilrea to the title, however, I feel that Ballinderry have a slicker attacking forward line which should see them edge it. Prediction: Ballinderry

Gerard O’Kane (Glenullin) – The final on Sunday is something I am really looking forward to. Like last year it is new territory for one of the teams and I suppose this also helps to keep public interest pretty high.

On the subject matter of who will win, it is a real difficult one. Ballinderry have the greater scoring threat from play, their forward line has been going really well, they would have the greater physical power than a younger Kilrea side and undoubtedly have greater experience.

Taking all that into consideration it obviously points to a Ballinderry victory, however, having been in the position before that Kilrea are in, and I know it is an over used term in Gaelic football, hunger for Kilrea has to be a massive factor. For a club never to have won it, to be in their first final it has to be a massive driving factor for them.

That is not to say the likes of Kevin McGuckin, Enda, Deets, who have 4/5 medals don’t want it badly either and after getting beat last year it might also spur them on too so all in all it makes for an interesting day. At the risk of being accused of sitting on the fence (or offending any of my mothers side of the family in Kilrea as she is from Kilrea but is now a Glen woman) I am going to say it will take a second day to separate these 2 teams. Prediction: Draw

Richard Ferris (Drumsurn) - Most experts will go for Ballinderry on the experience of their side but this young Kilrea team will love the challenge come Sunday, having had lots of success at underage levels these boys know how to win big games.

The Shamrocks are favourites and rightly so with players of the quality of Kevin McGuckin, Enda Muldoon, Conleith Gilligan and probably the player of the championship to date Kevin Moss McGuckin. Add to this the younger talent Aaron Devlin, Tony Martin and the new kid on the block Ryan Bell it will take a big performance from the men from the banks of the Bann to defeat Ballinderry.

Kilrea will look to the Kielt brothers, the McWilliams, Enda McAleese who I think is going well this year. The Pearses have young guns too with Benny Quigg, Paddy McNeill, Joe Morgan and Tieran Rafferty all class players.

It’s all on the day and Celtic Park is the place you want to play and you want to be there to play on County Final day for your club, not many get the chance. Both teams are well prepared by two very experienced managers Martin McKinless and Peter Doherty. So a great game is expected for a number of reasons, will experience out do youth. Prediction: the young guns this time - Kilrea to cross the Glenshane with John McLaughlin.

Neil McCloy (Loup) - An intriguing final between an experienced Ballinderry team and an emerging Kilrea team. I believe Ballinderry will be victorious Mal. I feel they will be smarting from defeat last year and will have learned from that valuable lesson. I also feel that they have too many quality forwards that will be hard to contain on the wide space of Celtic Park. Sometimes you have to lose a final before winning one and therefore Ballinderry get my nod. Prediction: Ballinderry

Paddy Bradley (Glenullin) - Ballinderry are hot favourites for the final and rightly so as they have consistently been the top team in Derry for 5-6 years now. After losing the final last year I don’t see complacency as a problem and they will be keen to get their hands on John McLaughlin again after last years disappointment.

Kilrea have had luck on their side to date. Magherafelt missed a penalty, Banagher had a goal disallowed, Loup a man sent off at a crucial stage. You need luck to win championships. Had we had luck we could possibly have won another 1 or 2. I think the game will be fairly close for the majority of it but in the end I think Ballinderry have better forwards and expect this to pull them through in the end. Prediction: Ballinderry by 4.

Thanks to the pundits for expressing their views. Sunday will answer many questions, or will Gerard O’Kane be spot on with a draw.