Derry open National League with game against Meath in Croke Park

National League Division Two

Derry v Meath at Croke Park, 3pm Saturday

Derry and Meath have the honour of playing the opening National League Division Two game on Saturday at headquarters.
It was listed as a home game for Meath but their ground Pairc Tailtean in Navan is undergoing a 21 million euro facelift.
This means that of their seven league games Derry have only two away. They are against Louth and Kildare.
Over the years Derry have a pretty good record against the Royal County men, now managed by the ever smiling Robbie Brennan who took over in 2024. He managed Kilmacud Crokes to an All Ireland club championship victory over Glen three years ago.
His team did reach the Leinster final last year but lost to neighbours Louth. However, they did reach the All Ireland quarter final and managed a victory over eventual All Ireland champions Kerry in the group stages.
After a winless and injury ridden 2025 Derry are now confident that under returning manager Ciaran Meenagh they can get back to the form of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
He has overhauled the panel, bringing in players like Conor McAteer, Ruairi O’Mianain, Sean Kearney, Sean Young and Shea Downey.
He will still be short of players who have been involved in the Sigerson Cup with their universities such as Dan Higgins, Ruairi Forbes, Donncha Gilmore and Charlie Diamond.
He used the two McKenna Cup games to try out players and he will be happy enough with what he saw.
Odhran Lynch is one player who is still in the healing process and his place is likely to be taken by Ballinascreen’s Ryan Scullion who had been previously in the panel but opted out last year.
The Slaughtneil players Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan were given a break so both are expected to return for this game with McGuigan in the attack and Rogers at midfield.
The McKenna Cup full back line of Conor McCluskey, Paudie McGrogan and Diarmuid Baker is likely to stay intact with the half line being Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless and possibly Marty Bradley.
The two big men - captain Conor Glass and Rogers - will be at midfield.
With players like Ethan Doherty, Lachlan Murray, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin, Niall Toner, Jack Doherty, Sean Kearney, Matthew Downey, Niall O’Donnell, Conor McAteer, Sean Young, Ruairi O’Mianain, Tommy Rogers and Eamon Young it is not often a Derry manager has 14 forwards to select six from.
Meath are a strong and very direct team who have a brilliant forward in Jordan Morris who will require a lot of attention. Others to watch are Eoghan Frayne, Shane Walsh, veteran Donal Keogan and Matthew Costello.
It is an ideal game for Derry to start with and it will give the management a good idea as to where they are at.
The following week they are at home to Tyrone.