Derry managerial appointment and news around the GAA clubs
James McNicholl, a former selector and coach with the 2020 All Ireland minor championship-winning Derry team, has been appointed manager of the Derry under 20 team, with a focus on winning the Ulster under 20 title.
Just a month after vacating his Dungiven club job James McNicholl has been appointed manager of the Derry under 20 team.
When Derry won the delayed 2020 All Ireland minor championship McNicholl was one of manager Marty Boyle’s selectors and coaches.
He has Slaughtmanus club man Darren McShane also a member of the 2020 management team and Loup native Declan McVey among his backroom team.
For a decade McNicholl wore the black and white of his native Dungiven with distinction before turning his hand to management. His priority will be to win the Ulster under 20 title.
Despite success at minor level Derry under 17 teams have not been able to make the expected impact in the under 20 championship.
With the All Ireland winning under 17 team of 2024 eligible for the 2027 under 20 campaign he has a good foundation to build on.
Those players apart the county is bristling with young talent. James Sargent, Cody Rocks. Luke Grant, Ger Dillon, Ronan Canavan and Eamon Young will be key players under the new regime.
And now for more news around the other GAA clubs.
Limavady Wolfhounds
The club will host a night of Derry GAA history at the Cultural Centre(St. Pats) on Friday 27th November with well known historian Donal McAnallen the key speaker. He will delve into the past of local clubs and county teams. How many people know that Limavady had a hurling team over 150 years ago? Mark Gannon from the club who is the current county board chairman has let it be known that he will not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming countyAGM
Drumsurn.
Drumsurn are preparing celebrate their first venture into the GAA world which was ninety nine years ago in 1927. On Sunday 1st March 2027 they will hold an information evening at the club head quarters. Later in the year they will hold a Gala dinner in the Tullyglass Hotel Ballymena. Anyone with old photographs or newspaper clipping relating to the early years of the club should contact Richard Ferris. Tonight (Tuesday)) senior team manager Ciaran Mullan will meet his squad to prepare for the 2027 season.
Glenullin.
There is a great tradition of camogie in Glenullin going back many years and they scored a victory last Friday in Glen that will cement the immediate future. They won the county under 18B championship shield with an exciting 1-16 to 4-6 success against Banagher. On Wednesday 18th November the club will host CPR and Defibrillator training in the club community centre.
Ballerin.
In what has been a very good year or the club the honours keep rolling in. The senior camogs are through to the final of the Bridie McMenamin Ulster junior championship shield. Following their win over Culloville of Armagh in the quarter final they had another home semi final on Sunday getting the better of Kilclief of Down in a thriller by 3-11 to 1-14. They will now play St. John’s in the final. St John’s from Belfasy beat Omagh in the other semi final. Both wining semi finalists got late goals to seal their progress. A week earlier the under 13 boys team beat Lavey away to win the Division Two winter league. The senior ladies football team has been promoted to Division Two for the 2027 season. Promotion back to Division Two for he seniors plus county titles for the under 14 and under 18 teams makes it a very good season for the Sarsfields.