Derry county football team explained

Derry
Crest:Derry GAA crest.jpg
Sport:Football
Irish:Doire
Nickname:The Oak Leafers
County Board:Derry GAA
Manager:Mickey Harte
Captain:Conor Glass
Home Venues:Celtic Park, Derry
Owenbeg, Dungiven
Sfc:Ulster (W) in 2023
Last Championship Title:1993
Nfl Division:1
Last League Title:2024
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The Derry county football team represents Derry GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of football.[1] The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Derry's home ground is Celtic Park. The team's manager is Rory Gallagher.

The team last won the Ulster Senior Championship in 2023, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 1993 and the National League in 2024.

The team is nicknamed the Oak Leafers.[2] [3] [4]

History

thumb|left|Team of Derry that won the national league championship in 1947In 1947, Derry won the National Football League. The group leaders were invited to play in the League semi-finals because heavy snow had disrupted the competition. Francie Niblock scored one of the finest goals in League history in Croke Park as Derry beat Clare.

In 1958, the county won its first Ulster Senior Football Championship (SFC) and secured a surprise victory in that year's All-Ireland semi-final, beating Kerry thanks to a Sean O'Connell goal three minutes from the end. In the final, Derry scored a goal ten minutes into the second half through Owen Gribben, but Dublin secured victory with goals scored by Paddy Farnan and Johnny Joyce.

In 1965, the Derry minor team won the All-Ireland Minor Championship, and three years later, at under-21 level, the bulk of that team captured the All-Ireland Under 21 Championship. Derry won the Ulster Senior Championship three times in the 1970s (1970, 1975 and 1976), but failed to advance past the All-Ireland semi-final stage on each occasion. In 1973, Anthony McGurk became the first player from Derry to receive an All Star Award.

The 1980s saw the county win two further All-Ireland Minor Championships (1983 and 1989) and their fifth Ulster Senior Championship (1987).

The 1990s proved to be the county's most successful decade. They won the county's second National League title in 1992, before winning the Ulster Championship and a first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1993. Derry won back-to-back National Leagues in 1995 and 1996, and the under-21 team won the 1997 All-Ireland Under-21 Championship. In 1998, Derry won another Ulster Senior Championship. In 2008, the Derry side of the 1990s was rated as one of the best of the previous twenty years and would have achieved more were it not for several unexpected defeats such as to Down in 1994, Tyrone in 1995 and Cavan in 1997.[5]

Derry won the 2000 National League and the county's minor team won their fourth All-Ireland Minor Championship in 2002. Derry won the 2008 National League, their sixth in all. Since then they have been overshadowed in the Ulster Senior Championship by the emergence of Tyrone and Donegal. Derry topped Division 2 of the NFL in 2013 and returned to Division 1 for the 2014 season.

Manager Damian Barton was banned after involving himself in an on-field fight in 2016.[6]

Derry were relegated to Division 4 in 2018.[7]

Joe Brolly wrote in August 2020 that Derry seriously debate whether to field a team in the Senior Football Championship as their presence in league and championship has been similar to that of Kilkenny, who concentrate on hurling instead.[8] Derry won the 2022 Ulster SFC, for the first time in 24 years, and progressed to a 2022 All-Ireland SFC semi-final for the first time in donkey's years. So much for Joe Brolly.[9] [10] Gallagher had to move aside when his wife got a word in about what he was doing to her behind closed doors, or in other places behind the scenes where he could get at her. The Derry County Board did not come of it too well. Ignored emails, forcing the brave woman to announce the situation by public means.[11] [12] It is fair to say it had egg on its face, and all over its trousers.[13] Gallagher then gave up the job as manager completely, leaving the Derry set-up in a tizzy of almighty proportions.[14] [15] Gallagher's dismissal would pave the way for a most unexpected decision: Derry to be managed by none other than Mickey Harte. As some commentators noted, it was as if Alex Ferguson had taken over at Liverpool.[16]

Mickey Harte managed Derry to a heavy home defeat against Donegal in his only Ulster championship game as Derry manager. Donegal were able to carve out numerous goal opportunities due to Derry's tactics, but only managed to score four of them.[17] [18] [19] [20] The Irish Times described the game as a "classic".[21] The newspaper also named Donegal's first goal, scored with a lob into an empty net as Derry goalkeeper Odhrán Lynch ran back up the pitch after vacating his goal, as its "Moment of the Year".[22] Harte left at the end of the season.[23]

Managerial history

DatesName
????–1946
1947John L. Fay
1948–1957
1958–1959Roddy Gribbin
1960–1967
1968–1971Jim McKeever
1971–1972Paddy O'Hara
1972–1974Harry Cassidy
1975–1979Frank Kearney
1980–1984Mickey MoranGlen
1985Tom Scullion
1986–1988Tom Scullion (2)
Jim McKeever (2)
Phil Stuart
1989–1990Tommy Diamond
1990Fr Seán Hegarty
1991–1994Eamonn Coleman
1995Mickey Moran (2)Glen
1996–1998Brian Mullins
1999Eamonn Coleman (2)
Adrian McGuckian
2000–2002Eamonn Coleman (3)
2003–2005Mickey Moran (3)Glen
2006–2008Paddy Crozier
2009–2010Damian CassidyBellaghy
2010–2012John BrennanLavey
2013–2015[24] [25] Brian McIver
2016–2017[26] Damian BartonNewbridge
2018–2019Damian McErlain
2019–2023Rory Gallagher
2023Ciarán Meenagh
2023–2024Mickey Harte

Players

Notable players

Records

Cú Chulainn Awards

Since the 1960s there has been a tradition of annually selecting the best footballer in each position, to create a special team of the year. Between 1963 and 1967 these players received what were known as Cú Chulainn awards. Derry received one Cú Chulainn Award.1967: Sean O'Connell

All Stars

In 1971 the Cú Chulainn Awards were formalised into the annual All Stars Awards.

Footballer of the Year

Two Derry players have been awarded the Texaco Footballer of the Year award. Ballymaguigan's Jim McKeever won the inaugural award in 1958, while Henry Downey of the Lavey club received player of the year for his performances in helping Derry win the 1993 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.1958: Jim McKeever
1993: Henry Downey

GPA Gaelic Football Team of the Year

From 2006 onwards, the Gaelic Players Association chose its own team of the year.2007: Paddy Bradley

International rules representatives

A number of Derry players have been selected to play international rules football for the Ireland team against Australia; both in the test games (1984, 1986, 1987 and 1990) and since the commencement of the International Rules Series in 1998. Note that the table is incomplete.

width=20%Playerwidth=15%Appearanceswidth=90%Years
Seán Marty Lockhart161998 (2), 1999 (2), 2000 (2), 2001 (2), 2003 (2), 2004 (2), 2005 (2), 2006 (2)
Anthony Tohill81998 (2), 1999 (2), 2000 (2), 2001 (2)
Paddy Bradley22008 (2)
Dermot McNicholl91984 (3), 1986 (3), 1987 (3)
Brian McGilligan61986 (3) 1987 (3)
Tony Scullion41987 (1) 1990 (3)

Player statistics

Championship

Championship top scorers

width=10%Playerwidth=10%Debutwidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Appearanceswidth=10%Goalswidth=10%Pointswidth=10%Final Gamewidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Total Score
Paddy Bradley14/05/2000Cavan511720230/06/2012Longford253
Sean O'Connell09/06/1957Antrim381212025/06/1976Cavan156
Anthony Tohill30/06/1991Down52412828/06/2003Dublin140
Enda Gormley01/06/1986Tyrone34211802/07/2000Antrim124
Mark Lynch24/07/2004Limerick54610109/06/2018Kildare119
Enda Muldoon01/06/1997Monaghan54118423/07/2011Kildare117

Championship appearances

width=16%Playerwidth=16%Debutwidth=16%Oppositionwidth=16%Appearanceswidth=16%Final Gamewidth=16%Opposition
Enda Muldoon01/06/1997Monaghan5423/07/2011Kildare
Mark Lynch24/07/2004Limerick5409/06/2018Kildare
Anthony Tohill30/06/1991Down5228/06/2003Dublin
Paddy Bradley14/05/2000Cavan5130/06/2012Longford
Seán Marty Lockhart02/06/1996Armagh5018/07/2009Donegal

Championship single score

width=16%Playerwidth=16%Datewidth=16%Oppositionwidth=16%Goalswidth=16%POintswidth=16%Total
Paddy Bradley05/06/2005Monaghan11013
Paddy Bradley15/07/2006Longford2713
Brendan Kelly19/06/1977Tyrone2511
Paddy Bradley12/06/2004Wicklow1811
Micky Niblock25/07/1971Down2410

Championship season score

width=10%Playerwidth=10%First Gamewidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Appearanceswidth=10%Goalswidth=10%Pointswidth=10%Final Gamewidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Total Score
Paddy Bradley09/05/2004Tyrone723829/08/2004Kerry44
Paddy Bradley05/06/2005Monaghan522906/08/2005Laois35
Enda Muldoon19/05/2004Tyrone732429/08/2004Kerry33

National League

NFL top scorers

width=10%Playerwidth=10%Debutwidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Appearanceswidth=10%Goalswidth=10%Pointswidth=10%Final Gamewidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Total Score
Paddy Bradley31/10/1999Mayo851432408/04/12Westmeath366
Sean O'Connell15/09/1957Antrim842524202/05/1976Dublin317
Anthony Tohill27/10/1991Meath721415531/03/2002Down197
Enda Gormley13/10/1985Antrim62716415/04/201Fermanagh185
Joe Brolly07/10/1990Cavan631213811/04/1999Cork174
Mark Lynch06/02/2005Meath 80814525/03/2018Sligo169
James Kielt01/02/2009Mayo54512525/03/2018Sligo140
Conleith Gilligan20/05/2000Meath 54610625/03/2012Louth124
Eoin Bradley02/06/2005Meath56410603/04/2016Armagh118
Brendan Kelly20/10/1674Tyrone3758902/05/1976Dublin 104
JE Mullan17/03/1940Sligo39184613/05/1955Armagh100

NFL appearances

width=16%Playerwidth=16%Debutwidth=16%Oppositionwidth=16%Appearanceswidth=16%Final Gamewidth=16%Opposition
Tony Scullion13/02/1983Armagh9505/05/1996Donegal
Kieran McKeever31/01/1988Monaghan8908/04/2001Cavan
Paddy Bradley31/10/1999Mayo8508/04/2012Westmeath
Sean O'Connell15/09/1957Mayo8402/05/1976Dublin
Mark Lynch06/02/2005Meath8025/03/2018Sligo

NFL single score

width=16%Playerwidth=16%Datewidth=16%Oppositionwidth=16%Goalswidth=16%Pointswidth=16%Total
Paddy Bradley07/03/2004Waterford3918
Paddy Bradley03/04/2005Tipperary11316
Matt Regan29/10/1939Tyrone5015
Sean O'Connell12/03/1967Armagh4315
JE Mullan16/09/1951Fermanagh2511
Paddy Bradley23/02/2003Monaghan3211
Mark Lynch16/03/2014Dublin1811
Emmett Bradley18/02/2018Offaly1811
Shane McGuigan16/03/2019Leitrim2511
Sean O'Connell05/02/1967Down3110
Shane McGuigan23/02/2020Louth1710

NFL season score

width=10%Playerwidth=10%First Gamewidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Appearanceswidth=10%Goalswidth=10%Pointswidth=10%Final Gamewidth=10%Oppositionwidth=10%Total Score
Paddy Bradley06/02/2005Meath824424/04/2005Monaghan50
Mark Lynch01/02/2014Tyrone824427/04/2014Dublin50

Current management team

Mickey Harte

Gavin Devlin

Honours

Official honours, with additions noted.[29] For more details on this topic including team line-ups, see here

National

Provincial

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Notes and References

  1. News: 'It will not happen again': BBC apologise for Londonderry GAA reference. Irish Examiner. 30 January 2018. Stephen. Barry.
  2. News: Derry football boss anticipates mid-March League start. 27 January 2021. If the Oak Leafers fail to get out of Division Three and don't clinch an unlikely Ulster Championship triumph....
  3. News: 'If we're going to compete we need to iron out the flaws' - McKaigue. 30 May 2021. The Oak Leafers saw off the Breffinimen 1-16 to 2-11 at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday..
  4. News: Tribesmen win with ease on the road against Derry in Division 2. RTÉ. 28 February 2016. The Oak Leafers had manager Damian Barton serving a touchline suspension and suffered badly in a game they rarely looked like making a contest out of..
  5. News: Alan. Rodgers. Experts say Tyrone rank among the best. Gaelic Life. 20–21. 10 October 2008 .
  6. https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/35667391 Damian Barton: Derry football manager handed eight-week ban
  7. https://www.the42.ie/derry-division-4-relegated-3923599-Mar2018/ Derry relegated to Division 4 just four years after reaching Division 1 final
  8. News: Joe. Brolly. Joe Brolly. The possibility of not entering a senior team in the championship may sound radical, but it is the inevitable. Sunday Independent. 23 August 2020. 23 August 2020. In Derry, the board is currently in serious discussions about whether to enter a senior team into next year's championship… if Derry had not fielded a team in league or championship over the last five years, our absence would have been as memorable as Kilkenny's footballers….
  9. News: Brilliant Comer leads Galway past Derry to first All-Ireland final in 21 years: The full-forward gunned down Derry with two second-half goals. The42.ie. Kevin. O'Brien. 9 July 2022.
  10. News: All Ireland SFC QF: Impressive Derry cruise to victory. Paul. Keane. 25 June 2022.
  11. News: Revealed: Nicola Gallagher's father sent five emails to GAA about Rory Gallagher. Sunday Independent. Rodney. Edwards. 21 May 2023.
  12. News: 'If my story helps one woman or man then it will have been worth it'. Sunday Independent. Rodney. Edwards. 14 May 2023.
  13. News: Derry GAA informed of allegations against Rory Gallagher in May 2022. The Irish News. 14 May 2023.
  14. News: Rory Gallagher's wife Nicola speaks out as he steps down as Derry GAA manager. Sophie. Clarke. 14 May 2023.
  15. News: GAA knew about allegations. The Irish Times. Freya. McClements. 15 May 2023.
  16. News: 'Would Alex Ferguson manage Liverpool?' – three counties left shocked by Mickey Harte's move. Sunday Independent. Dermot. Crowe. 24 September 2023.
  17. Web site: Donegal goal glut sinks Derry. 20 April 2024. RTÉ. Michael. Wilson. 20 April 2024.
  18. Web site: Ulster SFC: Donegal hit four goals to stun champions Derry. 20 April 2024. BBC. Orla. Bannon. 20 April 2024.
  19. Web site: GAA: Donegal stun Derry in Ulster. 20 April 2024. BreakingNews.ie. 20 April 2024.
  20. Web site: Donegal sink Ulster champions Derry with four-goal blitz: Old fashioned barn burner in Derry as Donegal raid Celtic Park for goals. 20 April 2024. The42.ie. Declan. Bogue. 20 April 2024.
  21. Web site: Three goals directly from kick-outs make a fool of Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch as the visitors pull off a shock with echoes of their 2014 win over Dublin. 21 April 2024. The Irish Times. Malachy. Clerkin. 21 April 2024.
  22. Web site: The best players, games and moments along with the biggest surprises and disappointments, as chosen by Irish Times writers. 29 July 2024. The Irish Times. Malachy. Clerkin. https://web.archive.org/web/20240729225513/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/07/29/gaelic-football-year-in-review-armagh-the-biggest-surprise-in-a-season-of-upsets/. 29 July 2024.
  23. Web site: The inside story of Mickey Harte's year in Derry and ultimate resignation: The move of Derry in securing Tyrone's three time All Ireland winning manager came as a shock, but it hasn't worked out. 9 July 2024. The42.ie. Declan. Bogue. 9 July 2024.
  24. News: Brian McIver is appointed as the new Derry football boss. BBC. 6 September 2012.
  25. News: Brian McIver lambasts referee as he quits Derry after Galway defeat. BBC. 18 July 2015.
  26. News: Damian Barton named as new Derry football manager. BBC. 22 September 2015.
  27. News: GAA couple avoid jail over kebab shop scrap as judge slams 'fall from grace': Suspended sentence for former Derry star and HR boss wife who lost her high-flying job over fight. John. Toner. 11 August 2024.
  28. News: Tyrone's Conor McKenna on verge of making history in All-Ireland decider. 11 September 2021.
  29. Web site: Derry — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh. Ulster GAA. 15 June 2022.
  30. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/dr-mckenna-cup-thrilling-final-that-was-worth-the-wait-28595065.html Dr McKenna Cup: Thrilling final that was worth the wait
  31. Web site: Ulster MFC: Well drilled Derry capture title in style . 18 July 2017 . . 16 July 2017.