County Derry Post

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Lissan
Who’s in charge? Ballinderry duo Gerard O’Neill and 2002 All-Ireland club winner Barry McOscar will take charge of Lissan
Who’s gone? Having played a bit part role last year, Niall Convery is the only absentee from last year’s Lissan squad. There are no long term injuries and no suspensions.
Any new faces? No new faces for the new management to work with.
Aims for the season? Go a step further than last year. They were heartbroken by their last minute defeat to Ogra and, while they will likely be challenged hard by a couple of clubs, they will start the campaign as favourites to achieve the promotion they crave.
Key fixture? An opening day battle takes them to renew their battle with Drum on Sunday. Lissan haven’t lost a league game against Drum in over three years.
Key player? Darren Donnelly was in the Derry minor squad last year and Tommy Devlin’s decision to move him from corner-forward to wing-back was inspired last year. Irrespective of where he plays, he will be a vital player.
Our assessment? Lissan were arguably better than Ogra for most of last season but they fell a step short. If they can regain the same focus and commitment, they will be favourites and those behind them will have a job to stay in touch.
Where they’ll finish? We’re tipping them to go straight up.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Glack
Who’s in charge? John McLaughlin takes control for a second year running, despite the side’s relegation last term
Who’s gone? No-one will be departing the Glack panel this term, but Barry Kerr could be out for a while with a leg injury
Any new faces? Breffni King announced his return with two goals in his side’s win over Drum and Fergal Kealey will also be back in the fray. Ciaran Carmichael and Ciaran O’Brien are promising youngsters.
Aims for the season? To get back into Intermediate football. They were extremely disappointing last term and have yo-yoed between the divisions. The last time they were relegated, they started with 8 wins in a row and something similar might do them well.
Key fixture? August 10 will see Lissan make the journey to Glack for what could be a title decider.
Key player? The return of Fergal Kealey is a big boost. He grabs a large percentage of the scores for his side and if they are to gazump the rest, they will need him.
Our assessment? If they get up a head of steam, then they could walk away with the division and they’re particularly hard to beat at home. If they lose their first couple of games, they could slip into obscurity.
Where they’ll finish? Finish behind Lissan and face a playoff.

Chris McCann looks at
Drum
Who’s in charge? Former Derry skipper Joe Irwin will take the reigns again
Who’s gone? Midfielder Bryan McCartney is out for the year with a cruciate ligament injury, while Michael Burke’s injuries look to have finally gotten the better of him.
Any new faces? Young goalkeeper Eunan O’Hara is part of the Derry minor panel and will push for a starting spot. Former stateside exile Sean McNicholl could also make an impact, while youngsters like Marc McLaughlin, PJ Moore and Daire Hogan are on the fringes.
Aims for the season? Like all Division Five sides the big aim is to get out of the Junior ranks. They were championship finalists in 2006 and 2007, winning the former and losing the latter, both games against Lissan. However, their focus this season will be to make Intermediate football.
Key fixture? Their opening three games pit them against sides likely to finish around them. They’re at home to Lissan and Dolan’s before going to Glack – losing those could destroy their chances.
Key player? Donal Brolly is a versatile forward who brings an inspirational Trojan workrate to the side.
Our assessment? For a club who looked on the verge of folding more than once in recent years, Drum have enjoyed something of a renaissance. Won’t be far away from the top of the table but could find themselves edged out by the likes of Glack or Lissan.
Where they’ll finish? Disappointingly for them, it looks like being third.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Bellaghy Thirds
Who’s in charge? Liam Lee is the man in the hotseat
Who’s gone? A few have stepped up into the seniors but they’re working with basically the same squad as the last couple of years.
Any new faces? With the majority of their young players tending to go to the reserves, the thirds side is unpredictable but it’s safe to say they’ll have a familiar look, with the likes of Karl Diamond and Eunan Cassidy around.
Aims for the season? Given the restructuring of Division Five, it’s hard to know what their aim is. They can win the league but can’t get promoted and no longer play in the Junior championship, so giving boys football might be the height of it.
Key fixture? Seconds out, round two. Nothing beats a good Ballinderry v Bellaghy clash and the crowd will still turn out at Shamrock Park, thirds or not, because neither side will like losing.
Key player? Eunan Cassidy takes the ball, he turns, left or right, and he puts it over the bar. It looks simple but it’s not, it’s absolutely vital to Bellaghy.
Our assessment? Bellaghy Thirds had a chance to win the league last year but a fixture problem led to their chances being eradicated. They have enough good players to sit near the top and beat the top sides but they probably won’t win it.
Where they’ll finish? Fourth, but it could be higher.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Séan Dolan’s
Who’s in charge? Having left Limavady, the big managerial appointment in the city is Geoffrey McGonigle’s move to Dolan’s
Who’s gone? Kevin Nixon is out for the year with a broken leg, while Gavin Murray is also likely to miss most of it with a cruciate knee injury. Caolan Thompson (ankle ligaments) and Liam McGuinness are likely to miss the first few weeks.
Any new faces? Derry minor hurler Alan Grant is the great white hope for Dolan’s, while Gearoid McDermott also comes into contention and both have made their debuts in recent weeks.
Aims for the season? Dolan’s have been dogged by disappointments over the past few years, with early season promise coming to nothing as they struggle to get out of the junior ranks. That will be their aim once more, while a championship title wouldn’t go amiss.
Key fixture? Any side that goes to Sean Brown Park will have their mettle tested and the opening day trip to Bellaghy will certainly provide McGonigle’s new charges with a test.
Key player? He might not have the stamina of old but Ciaran Wilkinson is still the outstanding Dolan’s player. If he has an off day, Dolan’s struggle around midfield.
Our assessment? Dolan’s haven’t got the biggest squad and can ill afford to lose forwards like Kevin Nixon. Their inconsistency has cost them over the past few years and, judging by the fact they lost to Magilligan on Sunday, that isn’t going to improve.
Where they’ll finish? I’ll be surprised if they are title contenders. Fifth.

Chris McCann looks at
Magilligan
Who’s in charge? Derry under-21 selector and former Limavady and Ballymaguigan boss Charlie O’Kane has taken up the challenge of reviving Magilligan’s fortunes.
Who’s gone? Every member of last year’s squad is back on board but Michael Doherty looks set to miss the first half of season after being injured playing soccer for Institute.
Any new faces? Magilligan have high hopes that live-wire minor corner-forward Sean Doherty corner-forward can make an impact at senior level.
Aims for the season? It’s been a few years since Magilligan even finished their programme so there’s plenty of room for progress. A win over Sean Dolan’s in the quarter-final of the Neil Carlin augurs for an up-turn in fortunes.
Key fixture? Their trip to Glack on the opening day will provide an acid test of how much progress has been made in the off season.
Key player? In the absence of Michael Doherty, Magilligan will look to wing-forward Brian Butcher to carry the fight. He scored 1-12 against Dolan’s at the weekend so his early season form is encouraging.
Our assessment? This could well be the season where Magilligan turn the corner after some barren years. Charlie O’Kane seems to have engendered dome real spirit in the squad and improvement is expected.
Where they’ll finish? We reckon they’ll move away from the bottom finishing above at least a couple of other teams.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Ballinderry Thirds
Who’s in charge? Martin Mallon, Declan McNally and Paul Duffin will combine to take the Shamrocks side
Who’s gone? Last year’s captain Barry Mullan is out for a couple of months with a broken arm but bar that, it’s much the same.
Any new faces? None of last year’s minors have appeared for the Thirds as yet, so it looks like the old heads will be on their own again.
Aims for the season? Much like their rivals Bellaghy, the restructuring of the league will not do them any good and it could be a case of getting as many games as they can.
Key fixture? They will be guaranteed a game on the second weekend, when they host Bellaghy Thirds in what will still be a keenly contested derby.
Key player? Cathal McGeehan played senior football at a stage last year but he has gone to the thirds this year and will drive them forward from half-back.
Our assessment? Ballinderry Thirds have the likes of Killian Conlon, Cathal McGeehan and Gary Higgins to call on but they won’t win the league. They could struggle to get games over the course of the season and will thus struggle for points.
Where they’ll finish? Seventh wouldn’t be their idea of a good position.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Doire Colmcille
Who’s in charge? Doire Colmcille are the only club in Derry without a manager.
Who’s gone? Brian Rainey and Emmett McGilloway were rumoured to be transferring to Craigbane and Dungiven respectively but it appears that they’ll now miss the deadline, though whether they play for Colmcille is another matter. Full-back Chris O’Donnell is in England while James McQuillan is struggling with a niggly injury.
Any new faces? Pearse O’Doherty, Matthew Maguire and Andy Coyle are the most promising young players in the Colmcille ranks.
Aims for the season? Doire Colmcille are struggling. Without a manager, and with some unrest in the senior squad, they look to be on the verge of collapse and it looks like surviving with a senior team to the end of the season might be their best hope.
Key fixture? Their season doesn’t start until April 20 when they host Glack and a defeat there could offset a disappointing season.
Key player? Young Decky McErlain won the club’s Player of the Year award last year despite being just 18 and looks like a promising prospect.
Our assessment? The assessment is simple, Colmcille are going to struggle. They still have a few decent players but their morale will counteract that and could result in a disappointing year.
Where they’ll finish? Will struggle to win games. Bottom.