Barrett Electrical Under 13 Football Competition

On Monday the Barrett Electrical Under 13 Football Competition for 2009 will begin. We are delighted that Barrett's have decided to sponsor the competition for the second year running. Last year's A winners Glen and B winners Foreglen will both be hoping to regain their titles although they are sure to come up against some stiff competition.

Pictured above is Alan Leeper from Barrett Electrical Contracts Ltd. and Anthony McSwiggan County Vice Chairman.

Club Derry Under 14 Hurlers Trip to Croke Park

The Club Derry Under 14 Hurlers also got to take part in Croke Park this year. Some photo's attached of the day:

Club Derry Hurling Development Squads Compete in National Blitz's

Good luck the the Club Derry Under 14 and Under 16 Hurlers who are both in action this weekend. The Under 16's will be going to Kinnegad Co. Westmeath to compete against Wexford B, Wicklow and Meath in the group stages.

The Under 16 squad is: Robert Emmets Slaughtneil: Eanna Cassidy, Mark Doherty, Dominic Mullan, Pearse McGrath, Stephen Mulholland; Michael Davitts, Swatragh: Michael Warnock, Eoin McGuckin, Darin Kearney, Orin McFlynn, Michael Quigg; Kevin Lynchs, Dungiven: Brian Og McGilligan, Kieran McIntyre, Ruari Dougan, Ciaran O'Kane; Eoin Rua, Coleraine: Ruari Leonard, Ciaran Gale, Liam Frizzell; Erin's Own, Lavey: Michael Taggart; St. Colm's, Ballinascreen: Ruari O'Kane; St Mary's, Banagher: Declan O'Neill, Shane Farren, Tiernan McCloskey; Na Magha: Tamor Dougan and Thomas McSheffrey.

The Under 14's will be taking part in the Tony Forrestal in Portlaoise. The under 14 squad travelling down is: Ballinascreen: Martin Mulgrew, Sean Doyle, Ryan McGuigan, Ciaran Scullion, Sean Donnelly; Banagher: Darel Kealey, Cathaoir McCloskey, Conor McGrellis, Jonathan O'Dwyer; Eoghan Rua: Ruairi Mooney, Paul Roantree; Kevin Lynch's: Joel Bradely, Ciaran Colhoun; Patrick Cunningham, Gavin McCormick; Lavey: Josh McDonnell, Conor McGurk, Eunan Shaw, Jarlath Shaw; Na Magha: Declan Foley, Aaron Griffin, Diarmuid Mackey; Swatragh: Patrick Bradely, Ben Deary; Slaughtneil: Frank McEldowney, Michael McGrath, Mark McGuigan, Cormac O'Doherty

New GAA Games Promotion Officer for Limavady Area

I am delighted to announce that Richard Ferris has begun his Games Promotion Officer post within Limavady District Council. Richard’s contact number is 07870988138 and his email address is richardferrisgpo@yahoo.co.uk
Over the coming weeks Richard will begin his school programme and roll out some club initiatives. He will be in touch with each club in the district in due course. However in the mean time if anyone has any queries or questions I’m sure Richard would be delighted to hear from you.

I personally would like to wish Richard all the best with his new post and welcome him into the team!

Lynco Under 12 Go Games Blitz

On Friday 21st August we held our final Lynco Under 12 Go Games Blitz at Owenbeg. This completed our Under 12 outdoor games programme for 2009. The Under 12's got 8 rounds of Under 12 football this year. I would like to say thanks to all the club coaches who gave up their time to work with these young players. I know from seeing the talent up in Owenbeg that the futures going to be bright!

Derry Under 12 Football Skills Test Sponsored by Sports World Magherafelt

On Monday night we held our Under 12 Football Skills test in Owenbeg. 40 young footballers took part. The winner was Frank Dillon from Dungiven with 130 points. Frank will receive a Derry tracksuit sponsored by Sports World Magherafelt.

The four runners up were Declan McCusker Glen - 120 pts, Niall Brown Coleraine - 120 pts, Paul Tohill Greenlough - 115 pts and Eoin Devlin Ballinderry 110 pts. All five boys recieved a T-Shirt sponsored by Club Derry. They will now represent Derry at the Ulster Under 12 Skills competition on Saturday 12th September 10.30am in Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown. Good luck lads.

Club Derry Under 16 Football Development Squad win Buncrana Cup

On Saturday the Club Derry Under 16 Football development squad won the Buncrana cup for only the second time in the competitions ten year history.

At 11.30am they competed against Monaghan in Naomh Padraig, Muff. The Derry team that started was: Ciaron McLarnon, Odhran Glass, Martin Bradley, Gavin Tallon, Fergal Duffin, Ruairi Moore, Michael Warnock, Nathan Rocks, Conor McAtamney, Anthony O’Neill, Emmett Bradley, Adrian Trainor, Cathair Friel, Shane Farren and Niall Higgins.

The game was played in perfect conditions, however it was Derry who got off to the better start scoring 1-03 in 10 minutes before Monaghan could get on the score sheet, but the stem of attack continued from the men in red with Adrian Trainor scoring Derry’s second goal after 11 minutes to put the Oak leaf men 2-06 to 0-01 up. Both teams then exchanged three points apiece to leave the score at half time Derry 2-06 to 0-04.

The second half was a much cagier contest Monaghan got the opening point to make it 2-06 to 0-05 but that was as close as they came Derry closed the half with a goal and a point to Monaghan’s two points to win the semi final 3-07 to 0-08.
Derry Scorers were Cathair Friel 1-01, Shane Farren 1-01, Adrian Trainor 1-00, Fergal Duffin 0-02, Anthony O’Neill 0-01, Niall Higgins 0-01 and Nathan Rocks 0-01


Tyrone took on Armagh in the other semi final at Burt with Tyrone coming out on top on a score line of 3-11 to 2-10


So it was a Derry vs Tyrone Final at Buncrana. Derry only had one change in the final with Glen’s Conor Carville coming in for clubman Odhran Glass. The game began and straight from the throw in Derry started on the attack with Shane Farren and Michael Warnock scoring points in the two minutes. Tyrone however weren’t going to let Derry have it their own way and after 7 minutes they scored a goal from a high ball into the square which wasn’t dealt with. Derry scored three unanswered points to settle the nerves however Tyrone struck again with a goal after 14 minutes to go 0-05 to 2-01 up. This was a crucial stage of the game however credit to the Derry players they dug deep and scored 2-04 to Tyrone’s 3 points in the final 11 minutes to half time leaving Derry in the lead at the interval 1-09 to 2-04.



The opening two minutes of the second half saw Derry and Tyrone exchanging a point each, although from then on Derry took control and never looked back in what was an excellent final. Derry ran out eventual winners 1-20 to 2-07.
Derry Scorers were Niall Higgins 1-01, Shane Farren 0-04, Cathair Friel 0-04, Emmett Bradley 0-03, Adrian Trainor 0-02, Nathan Rocks 0-02, Ruairi Moore 0-01 , Michael Warnock 0-01, Fergal Duffin 0-01 and Neil McNicholl 0-01


The squad of players who won the Buncrana Cup 2009 were: Ardmore: Eoghan Dooher; Ballymaguigan: Christopher Henry; Banagher: Shane Farren; Claudy: Niall O’Kane; Craigbane: Ruairi Moore; Desertmartin: Adrian Trainor, Martin Breen; Drumsurn: Cathair Friel; Dungiven: Brian Óg McGilligan, Sean McNicholl; Glack: Kieran McIntyre; Glen: Michael Warnock, Emmett Bradley, Odhran Glass, Gavin Tallon, Connor Carville; Glenullin: Neil McNicholl; Kilrea: Jack Kielt, Dermot Morrow, Dermot McWilliams, Joe Morgan; Loup: Caolin McGinley, Thomas McVey, Anthony O’Neill; Magherafelt: Fergal Duffin, Antone McElhone, Niall Higgins; Newbridge: Nathan Rocks, Ciaron McLarnon; Slaughtmanus: Damian Barr; Slaughtneil: Pearse McGrath; Swatragh: Connor McAtamney, James Kearney; Steelstown: Brian Scallon
Coaches: Karl Conlan, Martin McWilliams, Martin Boyle and Jason Muldoon Medical Assistance: Conan Loughrey and Mary Gormley

Good luck to all the Kilrea and Dungiven lads who couldn’t represent their County on Saturday, best of luck in the minor final in Celtic Park on Sunday!

Vhí Cul Camps

This was the last week of the Vhí Cul Camps for 2009. I have some photo's of Slaughtmanus's camp. The children were delighted to see James Keilt the County Cul Camp ambassador and Derry senior player.

County Coaching officer and my right hand man Brian Smith deserves huge credit for coordinating the Vhí Cul Camps this year. 22 Vhi camps, with approximately 2500 attending over the two months, that's some amount of jerseys and bags to get sorted. I spoke to him late Wednesday night past and he was trying to talk me into going with him to Ballygawley at 7am on Thursday morning so he could meet some other GAA header to exchange some kits so the waynes in Glenullin, Slaughtmanus and Drumsurn would all have the sizes they wanted. I mind last year he was sending someone down to Cork to pick some up in the middle of the night to have back for him the next day, he's a true Gael! I'm sure every single one of the 2500 that attended this year will be able to tell you who Brian Smith is! On behalf of everyone who was at a camp in Derry this year thanks Brian for all your hard work!! A word of thanks also to all the club coordinators who made our jobs a lot easier with the manner in which you's had all organised and finally to everyone of the 30 or 40 coaches we used over the summer, I'm sure we'll see many of you next year!

Glen win Derry Óg Sport 2009

Derry Óg Sport 2009 was probably one of the most competitive we've ever had. 24 teams took part in Owenbeg tonight. The six group winners, some of them just by the skin of their teeth were Glen, Slaughtneil, Dungiven, Craigbane, Bellaghy and Magherafelt.

In the Quarter finals Dungiven beat Craigbane in a very tight game and Glen beat Slaughtneil 1-06 to 1-05. That set up a Bellaghy vs Glen and Magherafelt vs Dungiven semi final. Both games were played with maximum effort and passion and certainly no shortage of skill. However it was Glen and Magherafelt who progressed into the final.

Either of these teams would have been worthy winners, for 15 minutes they went the 20 players put everything into it, the lead swinging back and forth, however when referee Mervin McAleese blew the final whistle it was Glen who were celebrating winning by the narrowest of margins on a scoreline of 1-04 to 1-03. Commiserations to Magherafelt who were excellent throughout the competition and congratulations to Glen who after beating Slaughtneil, Bellaghy and Magherafelt in the final certainly had to do it the hard way. All the best representing Derry at the Ulster Óg Sport on Saturday 5th September in Edendork, Co. Tyrone

Finally thanks for everyone who helped in anyway, especially all the referee's who looked after the games and to Club Derry who supported the competition.

Pictured above John Keenan Club Derry Chairman presenting Glen winning Captain and Player of the Tournament , Ryan Duggan

Derry Under 16 Footballers in Croke Park

Some video's and photo's of the Derry Under 16 Footballers in Croke Park earlier this year:

Good luck to everyone involved in the Buncrana Cup on Saturday!

Scoring with Enda Gormley

On Saturday past Enda Gormley, 2 time all star corner forward took a session in Glen Maghera on the art of scoring. The session was quite poorly attended probably due to the poor weather and the Under 14 season being concluded, however the players who did attend were treated to an excellent session delivered by Enda. Thanks very much Mr Gormley!

This was the final Oak Leaf School of Excellence pencilled in for the summer, however there will be a few indoor sessions during the winter month's for players to attend.

Campa Cathrath Dhoire a Huge Success

The 2 camps we held in Derry City both went extremely well. The 1st Camp held for children aged between 5 and 8 year olds was held from the 13th to 17th July and the 2nd Camp for the 9 to 12 year olds was held last week from the 10th to 14th August. Thanks to all the coaches who made the camps a success and to the Celtic Park Committee for making the park available for the children to enjoy