County Derry Post

Chris McCann looks at
Ballinderry
Who’s in charge? Martin McKinless, Paul McIver and Paul Donnelly bring experience and expertise.
Who’s gone? The Ballinderry squad remains garnished with all the usual faces.
Any new faces? Former Tyrone player Brian McGuckin has arrived to bolster an already formidable attack. Given the strength in depth of their squad, it is hard for minors to break straight into their senior side and as such, most of their talented young players will find themselves playing reserve football.
Aims for the season? Have won the league three years in a row, it won’t top their agenda for 2008. County, provincial and even national championship honours are the Shamrocks target, ideally avenging last year’s loss to Glenullin along the way.
Key fixture? The last game of the season pits them against county champions Glenullin in a potential scrap for the title.
Key player? Enda Muldoon, plucks balls from the air at either end, peerless passing, scores freely. Could possibly play anywhere apart from corner-back.
Our assessment? Ballinderry’s immense strength in depth enables them to cope without their eight county panellists. Have lost one league match in two years, that was against ‘Screen when the league title was already wrapped up. Rightly favourites for the league title and will probably justify that tag.
Where they’ll finish? Top of the heap.

Chris McCann looks at
Bellaghy
Who’s in charge? Seamus Birt, who has already won an Ulster with the Blues during an earlier spell in charge.
Who’s gone? Damien Cassidy has departed the manager’s hot-seat but none of the veteran players have pulled the pin.
Any new faces? With Brian Scullion injured, Derry under 21 goalkeeper Michael O’Neill will get the chance to show what he can do between the sticks.
Aims for the season? Having won the John McLaughlin Cup 21 times, they view it as their rightful property. League success would be nice but it’s Championship silverware that is awarded prominence at Sean Brown Park.
Key fixture? Not so much an individual game as their run-in at the end, where they will face the other three of our predicted top four in their final three games.
Key player? The best midfielder in Ireland, Fergal Doherty.
Our assessment? Obituaries for Bellaghy’s pre-eminence have been written on many occasions yet the Tones constantly prove the profits of doom wrong. They’ll finish in the top half of the league table and any club with Championship pretensions will have to factor Bellaghy into their equation. Could do with another scoring forward to take the pressure off Eoghan Brown.
Where they’ll finish? Will probably run Ballinderry as close as anyone, second.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Glenullin
Who’s in charge? Following the departure of Liam Bradley, his former assistant Kevin Madden takes the step up into the hotseat, backed up by Colm Rafferty
Who’s gone? The squad that brought the John McLaughlin Cup back to the Glen last campaign remains intact
Any new faces? The transfer market has been rather slow. There are young players like Niall O’Kane coming through but they are still some way short of a starting place for the seniors, meaning Madden’s side will look distinctly familiar to last year’s
Aims for the season? To prove people wrong. Since they won the Championship, the critics have suggested that Ballinderry were caught on a bad day and Bellaghy were unlucky but the fact is that Glenullin were the best team in the county last year. Now the challenge is to prove themselves all over again.
Key fixture? Just like Bellaghy, their final three games are against sides likely to finish around them, with the Wolfe Tones away sandwiched between home games against Slaughtneil and Ballinderry.
Key player? While their scoring power comes largely from the Bradley brothers, it’s one of another set of brothers who impressed most en route to the championship last year, with Ruairi Boylan undergoing a resurgence at midfield. He was badly missed in last week’s Ulster League final and his influence will again be vital this year.
Our assessment? They showed their undoubted quality last campaign but lifting themselves to that same level of intensity again might prove a tad more difficult. Discount them at your peril though.
Where they’ll finish? Third is probably as high as they’ll finish.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Slaughtneil
Who’s in charge? John Brennan has left the big chair to be replaced by former Armagh assistant John Rafferty
Who’s gone? The squad have been hit by a couple of injuries. Martin McEldowney will most likely miss the year with a cruciate knee injury and Patsy Bradley is still at least a month from his recovery, while goalkeeper Frankie Bradley is in Australia for at least a month
Any new faces? Christopher McKaigue was a regular in the side last year despite being a minor, meaning the most likely new face being Anton McMullan between the sticks. Declan McEldowney might also make more of an impact.
Aims for the season? Improvement on last year. Their championship campaign was cut short by Dungiven and Glenullin, and they will be looking for a return to the form that saw them annex the crown in 2004 with largely the same squad.
Key fixture? A lot of eyes will be on the Emmett’s from the season’s opening. They are capable of taking 8 points from their first 4 games before they host Glenullin.
Key player? If they can get Patsy Bradley back in the fold, it would be a huge boost but the majority of their scores still come from Jim Kelly.
Our assessment? While last year was not memorable, they were beaten by just a point in both championship games and had a decent league campaign. They could be doing with Patsy Bradley back though.
Where they’ll finish? They won’t get relegated but they won’t win the league either. Fourth place.

Chris McCann looks at
Dungiven
Who’s in charge? After reaching a Championship semi-final and winning promotion, it’s no surprise to see Eugene Kelly still at the helm.
Who’s gone? Cathal McKeever has departed to sample life in east Tyrone with Carrickmore. Geoffrey McGonigle has hung up the football boots to concentrate on managing Dolan’s, but might still don the Kevin Lynch’s regalia.
Any new faces? Youngsters by the names of Paddy Kelly, Sean O’Neill and Donal McGilligan have already been thrown in at the deep end in pre-season games, despite just coming out of under-16. Emmett McGilloway is rumoured to be close to transferring from Doire Colmcille.
Aims for the season? Most promoted sides are usually happy just to survive but Dungiven’s sights will be set a little higher. Will be targeting a place in the top four and a subsequently high seeding for the 2009 Championship draw. They might not say it but they’ll also believe they’ve an outside chance of lifting the John McLaughlin Cup.
Key fixture? They always look forward to a good rattle at their neighbours, Banagher and June 14 at Fr. McNally Park will be the place to be.
Key player? Paul Murphy can play in midfield or at centre-forward and was outstanding for the magpies last year.
Our assessment? Showed in last season’s Championship that they have the quality to thrive in Division One with wins over the likes of Slaughtneil and the Loup. Will be there or thereabouts come the business end of proceedings.
Where they’ll finish? Fifth place would represent continued progress.

Chris McCann looks at
Banagher
Who’s in charge? Liam Bradley has arrived fresh from winning the Senior Championship with his home club Glenullin.
Who’s gone? Nobody has retired from last year.
Any new faces? Hopefully Paul Carton will remain injury free for the campaign. Darren Murphy at full-forward, Gavin O’Neill in the corner and Niall McCullagh in the half-forward line are promising youngsters who could make the breakthrough this year.
Aims for the season? Banagher have hovered just above the relegation zone too often and will hoping that they’ll be comfortable in mid-table this season. Last year’s Championship was complete disaster, progress to the knockout stages is vital.
Key fixture? They have beaten Bellaghy a few times over the last couple of years and their opening day trip to Sean Brown Park might well prove a good indicator.
Key player? Banagher will be without their county men for much of the season so PJ McCloskey’s all round athleticism will be crucial.
Our assessment? The Feeny outfit never quite seem to add up to the sum of their parts. The likes of Ruairi McCloskey, Mark Lynch, Ryan Lynch, PJ McCloskey and Sean Marty Lockhart are quality operators. The Baker was able to harness the individual talent up at the Glen if he can repeat the trick then they should stay clear of any threat of relegation. It remains to be seen how much of an effect the demands of hurling will affect their football progress.
Where they’ll finish? Capable of better but we’ll plump for sixth.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Loup
Who’s in charge? Following Damien Barton’s unsuccessful term of office, former Tyrone under-21 supremo Martin Coyle takes the hotseat.
Who’s gone? Padraig O’Kane has shocked the St. Patrick’s club by hanging up the boots aged just 28, but the rest of the faces remain.
Any new faces? Youngster Declan McVey is an exciting prospect but suffered a dislocated knee in a recent schools match that could keep him out for a while, with Eamon McGuckin another prized youth. Shane McGuckin also returns after a year in Australia.
Aims for the season? Many talked them up as potential championship contenders last year but they were hugely disappointing and a restoration of pride is in order.
Key fixture? Two of last year’s underachievers meet on the opening day, with Loup travelling to Emmett Park to face Slaughtneil.
Key player? Despite the ageing limbs, Johnny McBride will still be the one all of the Loup players look up to.
Our assessment? Loup have unquestionably slipped back a bit since they wore the championship crown in 2003 and Martin Coyle has a job on his hands to arrest the slide. A good start could see them flourish but with Slaughtneil, Glenullin and Ballinderry as their opening three games, they could struggle to achieve that.
Where they’ll finish? Might face an end of season playoff to stay in the top flight.

Cahair O’Kane looks at
Castledawson
Who’s in charge? Former Kildress boss Cathal Corry has taken the reigns
Who’s gone? After years of threatening to do it, Dermot Heaney has finally hung up the boots and will be hugely missed. Stephen Doyle’s future is also in doubt.
Any new faces? Young guns Paddy Henry and Tony Gallagher, who is still a minor, will figure this campaign, along with the ever-improving Niall McNicholl.
Aims for the season? Castledawson can be proud of their recent league campaigns but they know themselves that they aren’t going to win it. Staying in the top flight would probably suffice.
Key fixture? Their third and second last games of the season could determine their fate. They face Loup at home and Banagher away.
Key player? Club captain Aidan McElhone will continue to drive his side forward.
Our assessment? Castledawson always seem to be hard done by at this time of year. Even though we’re tipping them to finish bottom, they’re easily capable of a mid-table position and don’t be surprised if I’m wrong.
Where they’ll finish? Coming in last, but not by much.