Derry management will have strong squad for 2026 season

THE new and not so new Derry senior team management will have a strong looking panel for the coming season as the glut of injuries that haunted Paddy Tally’s tenure seems to have more or less receded.

Derry had three All Star defenders at the start of last season.

Chrissy McKaigue retired, Conor McCuskey and Gareth McKinless missed the season with long term injuries while Niall Loughlin just came back for the last couple of games after ankle surgery.

It kept getting worse as goalkeeper Odhran Lynch joined the list, Brendan Rogers also missed a few and young Lachlan Murray had his problems but minor surgery at the end of the season will hopefully see him at his best next year.

Marty Bradley from Ballinascreen was going well in defence until he got hit by the injury bug.

Derry players are said to be happy with the return of Ciaran Meenagh as manager. He coached the players under Damian McErlaine and took over briefly from Rory Gallagher in 2023 and won the Ulster title in his first game.

In mid season Paddy Tally boosted the panel by bringing in four very good young players from the under 20 team.

Tommy Rogers, Ruairi Forbes, Fionn McEldowney and Danny McDermott will definitely be pushing for places next season and the return of the Dr. McKenna Cup will give them the chance to impress.

Then there is Jack Doherty from Glen, a brilliant player who has not always fancied county football and has drifted in and out of county panels. He would be a great addition to the forward line if he gives it a go.

The county championships has always been regarded as the best way to judge a player’s potential to play at county level.

Ciaran Meenagh was at virtually all the games and his notebook is likely to include players like Sean Young (Newbridge), James Murray (Magherafelt), Cahir O’Connor (Foreglen), Ciran Hendry (Lavey), Ruairi O’Mianain (Slaughteil) and Tiarnan Moore (Banagher).

One player who really stood out was Steelstown’s Cahir McMonagle who was one of the leading scorers. He was actually on the Derry panel but saw little action apart from making late substitute appearances.

His free taking with either foot was amazing and in his team’s extra time first round win over Faughnvale he scored 1-16.

Derry fans will be looking back for a return to the good days!

Meanwhile, former Ballinascreen player Martin Boyle is the toast of Loughmacrory after managing them to a first ever Tyrone senior title.

At Omagh on Sunday they beat hot favourites Trillick by 0-18 to 2-11.

Boyle was the Derry manager when they won the 2020 All Ireland minor title and in his third year at Loughmacrory they are county champions.

The story does not end there: among his backroom team was local man Ciaran Meenagh who is the Derry senior team manager and Boyle is part of his management team.

Tyrone has the hardest club championship to win and the last team to retain the O’Neill cup was Carrickmore in 2005 and it so happens that Loughmacrory is the smallest half of the parish they share.