BARTON NOT RUSHING CAPTAINCY

Dermot McBride has been one of
Damian Barton's rotating captains
(PIC Sportsfile)

Dermot McBride took the toss for the O'Fiaich Cup in Crossmaglen and on Sunday it was Chrissy McKaigue who led the Derry men out of the Owenbeg tunnel.  

After Sunday's win over Antrim manager Damian Barton indicated that he had not made a choice on who would lead the Oak Leaf County in 2016.

"Sure they should all be captains," quipped Barton when asked if he had given it much thought.  "We’ll have a different captain next week and we’ll have a different captain against Queens."

The former Derry player is looking more leadership from his squad.  "They all have to accept the responsibility of managing it out on the pitch.  The personnel we have are very quiet players so that’s something we need to develop within them as well.  The communication aspect so we’ll keep working at it."

Here is a clip of Barton answering @citycolt Steven Doherty's question.

Derry Ease to First win of 2016

Damian Barton was happy to see Derry play 'expansive football' as they eased to a 4-16 to 2-12 win over Antrim this afternoon at Owenbeg.

Shane Heavron bagged 2-1 on his debut and was named as the Bank of Ireland man of the match. In truth Derry could have scored more goals only for the brilliance of Chris Kerr and Ronan Hanna who came in to replace Kerr when he was black carded early in the second half.

Derry will play at home next Sunday against Tyrone in Owenbeg at 2pm.

Derry: Eoin McNicholl, Karl McKaigue, Dermot McBride, Joe Morgan, Liam McGoldrick (1-0), Chrissy McKaigue, Daniel Heavron (0-2), Emmet Bradley (0-1), Conor McAtamney, Ciaran McFaul (0-1), James Kielt (0-2, one free), Enda Lynn (0-2), Emmett McGuckin (0-1), Ryan Bell (1-5, 1-0 pen,four frees), Shane Heavron (2-1).

Subs: Oisin Duffy for Joe Morgan (40mins), Niall Loughlin for Shane Heavron (40mins), Christopher Bradley (0-1) for James Kielt (45mins), Mark Lynch for Emmet McGuckin (45mins), Shane McGahon for Conor McAtamney (53mins), Neil Forester for Liam McGoldrick (61mins)

Antrim: Chris Kerr, Kevin O’Boyle, Conor Burke, Jackson McGreevy, Justin Crozier, James Lavery, Michael Heinze, John Carron, Sean McVeigh, Colum Duffin, Connor Murray (0-1), Mark Sweeney, Brian Neeson (0-4, three frees, 1 ‘45’), Michael McCann (0-3 frees), Kevin Niblock.

Subs: Tomas McCann (2-0) for James Lavery (inj 15mins) Jack Dowling (0-1) for Sean McVeigh, (26 mins). Ronan Hanna for Chris Kerr (black card 41mins), Paddy Gallagher for Brian Neeson (51mins), Colm Flemning (0-2 frees) for Michael Heinze (57mins),

DERRY OPEN SEASON WITH A WIN

PIC - Courtesy of Queens GAA

Derry senior hurlers had a convincing 6-21 to 2-19 win over Donegal in the Conor McGurk Hurling Tournament at Queen's on Saturday.

Swatragh's Ruairi Convery was the tormentor in chief with a tally of 2-6.

Derry Team: Darrel McDermott; Gabriel Farren, Sean McCullagh, Darragh Mc Closkey; Thomas Magee, Oisin Mc Closkey, Niall Farren; Tiarnan Mc Closkey, Deaglan Foley 1-01; Jonathan O'Dwyer 0-05, Paul Cleary 0-01, Ciaran Gale 0-01; Sean Francis Quinn 1-02, Ruiari Convery 2-06, Brendan Laverty 0-03.

 

Subs: Mickey Conway 1-01 for Deaglan Foley, Breandan Douban for Thomas Magee, Shane Farren 1-01 for Ciaran Gale, Johnny McCullagh for Paul Cleary, Conor Owens For Darrel McDermott 

They play St Mary's University next Saturday.

FIXTURES

Saturday 9th January 

12pm Antrim Vs UUJ

1.30pm Derry Vs St Mary’s

Sunday 10th January 

12pm Queen’s Vs Armagh

1.30pm Down Vs Donegal 

Saturday 16th January  

12pm Queen’s Vs UUJ

1.30pm St Mary’s Vs Donegal

Sunday 17th January 

12pm Antrim Vs Armagh

1.30pm Derry Vs Down

Change of direction for Derry U17s

This season Derry will be putting an U17 football team into the Ulster League.  They will play games as part of double headers alongside the minors when the competition begins in March.

Co-ordindators Paddy Downey and John McErlain have already been active in getting their plans together.  They are working closely with the county minor management and have already been trawling the county looking for goalkeepers and players have already featured in the minor trial games.  

Final trials will take place on a Sunday morning (Date TBC) in January.  In the short term the U17s will feature in the Ulster League games which will count towards placings in the Jim McGuigan Cup.  There will also be two blitz competitions through the year.  The long term goal of the squad is to develop players for the 2017 county minor squad.  

In recent years it was an age group that was never fully functional in Derry but with U17s not eligible to play adult club football, this will be a welcome addition as the players develop towards the senior grade.

The players receive screening, a strength and conditioning programme, food after training and training gear in the same manner as provided by the minors.  The squad will train once a week on the same night as minors and Michael McMullan will provide a link with the minor management team.  This working link will keep the door open for any U17 players to work themselves towards the minor squad as the season progresses.

It's all part of the recent revamp of the development squads by Derry Director of Football Brian McIver.

ANTRIM HOPE TO PACK A PUNCH IN 2016

Brian Magee
(PIC - http://www.mageehealthandfitness.co.uk)

Antrim football manager Frank Fitzsimmons has admitted in the press recently that he has to learn from last season.  Their promotion bid from Division 4 of the NFL was off the rails very early in last year's campaign. 

This season he has freshened up his management team and has enlisted the services of former World Boxing Champion Brian Magee to take care of strength and conditioning.

They will start off their McKenna Cup campaign against Derry on Sunday in Owenbeg (2pm)

Here are some photos of the players in action at his gym. (Antrim GAA YouTube Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3sT4nPBM7s

Derry name team for McKenna Cup opener

Damian Barton has named his Derry team for Sunday's McKenna Cup clash with Antrim (Owenbeg 2pm).

Antrim won't be naming their starting lineup until just before throw in.

Newcomers Karl McKaigue and Joe Morgan come into the Derry defence with Magherafelt's Shane Heavron listed in attack after some impressive performances during the summer.

Other new faces in the squad include Lavey's goalkeeper Ciaron O'Boyle, Magherfelt defender Peter Quinn, Claudy's Shane McGahon, Chistopher 'Sammy' Bradley of Slaughtneil, Shane Mulgrew of Ballinascreen and Eoghan Rua player Gavin McWilliams.

Brendan Rogers (Queens), Niall Toner (St Mary's), Brian Og McGilligan (St Mary's) and Cailean O'Boyle (UUJ) are playing for their universities in the competition.

With Fermanagh visiting Owenbeg for the beginning of the NFL on 31st January, the next three weeks will give Derry a chance to get a look at players and begin their preparations for  the visit of Tyrone to Celtic Park on 22nd May in the Ulster Championship.

Meanwhile Derry hurlers will play Donegal on Saturday (1.30 The Dub, Belfast) in the Conor McGurk Tournament.

Derry Team (McKenna Cup v Antrim)
1. Eoin McNicholl (Glenullin)
2. Karl McKaigue (Slaughtneil)
3. Dermot McBride (Ballinascreen)
4. Joe Morgan (Kilrea)
5. Liam McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua)
6. Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil)
7. Daniel Heavron (Magherafelt)
8. Emmet Bradley (Glen)
9. Conor McAtamney (Swatragh)
10. Ciaran McFaul (Glen)
11. James Kielt (Kilrea)
12. Enda Lynn (Greenlough)
13. Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt)
14. Ryan Bell (Ballinderry)
15. Shane Heavron (Magherafelt)

16. Ciaron O’Boyle (Lavey)
17. Mark Lynch (Banagher)
18. Shane McGahon (Claudy)
19. Conor Murphy (Dungiven)
20. Niall Loughlin (Greenlough)
21. Shane Mulgrew (Ballinascreen)
22. Gavin McWilliams (Eoghan Rua)
23. Oisin Duffy (Foreglen)
24. Peter Quinn (Magherafelt)
25. Christopher Bradley (Slaughtneil)
26. Neil Forester (Steelstown)

Eoghan Rua have a January date

"We'd a challenge against Hurricane Frank yesterday, ended about even!"  These are the words of Eoghan Rua's Joe Passmore.

The men from 'The Port' are struggling with weather conditions as they prepare to play Galway's Sylane in the All-Ireland Junior Hurling semi-final on Sunday 24th January.

They will be looking to follow in Creggan's footsteps and land the All-Ireland title.

It will be a busy few weeks for their county football contingent who begin National League duty the following week.