Latest news with #ChrissyMcKaigue
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Derry legend hopes display vs Galway silences ex-coach Gavin Devlin who warned Paddy Tally against taking job
FORMER Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue hopes their display against Galway silences the team's ex-coach Gavin Devlin. Speaking to Devlin and manager And that was the end point of a disappointing Championship campaign that did not back up their fine league success as they won Division 1. County legend McKaigue But the Slaughtneil man was an impressed spectator at Read more on GAA Derry are still waiting for their first competitive victory under Tally but are in the hunt for knockout football ahead of Saturday week's group finale against Dublin — and McKaigue hopes their latest effort makes Devlin eat his words. He said: 'Gavin made that comment but if you were at the game, you would say that hopefully this is a turning point for that group. 'It was a really strong performance in terms of their attitude, their application, their intensity. 'From a Derry supporter's point of view, and knowing the lads, it was a performance to warm the heart. Most read in GAA Football "To be honest, nine times out of ten they get the result.' CHRISSY McKAIGUE spoke at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship launch. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - 1 Chrissy McKaigue spoke at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship launch
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Draw against Galway can be a turning point in Derry's season, says McKaigue
Former Derry full back Chrissy McKaigue is hopeful that the Oak Leaf county's draw against Galway can be a turning point for a side which has faced criticism in a winless 2025 season. The Derry squad were recently castigated by former coach Gavin Devlin, who worked with them under Mickey Harte last year. Appearing on the Smaller Fish GAA podcast, Devlin said the Derry players were still 'sulking' over the departure of Rory Gallagher in 2023 and suggested that current manager Paddy Tally should 'run a million miles' from the job. 'Gavin's a very affable character, I'm very friendly with him. We all heard that comment,' said McKaigue. 'But if you were at the game at the weekend you would say to yourself hopefully this is the real turning point for that Derry group.' Derry led by eight points in the second half at Celtic Park but had to pull out a last-minute equaliser after Matthew Tierney's 69th-minute goal for the Tribesmen put the visitors ahead. READ MORE 'No one really gave them a chance against Galway, let's be honest. I think Galway themselves were taken back by the intensity that Derry brought. From a Derry point of view, it was a performance to warm the heart. Nine times out of 10 they get the result.' McKaigue also discussed his mixed feelings towards the new rules , although he did say that the game was better overall than when he retired at the end of 2024. 'One thing that hasn't been talked about enough, which is a complete game changer, is the ball not being allowed to go back to the goalkeeper. I think that single-handedly has been a fantastic rule,' he added. 'The three men up is probably a necessary evil. I think the solo-and-go adds to the game, although I'm not quite sure about having to give the person four metres of a clearance zone.' On the other hand, he believes that the two-point arc has been a negative change. 'I'm not a fan of the two-point arc or the kickout arc at all,' he explained. 'In the climate that we live in, where there's quite often a hurricane blowing, I think has too big a bearing on the result of a game. 'The game needed more chaos, but in typical GAA fashion, we've brought the needle from one end of the gauge right to the other instead of bringing it towards the middle.'
Extra.ie
04-06-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
Six months on, former Derry Captain Chrissy McKaigue is content with his decision to retire
Hanging up his boots last year former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue is still getting used to the idea of watching from the side-line but says he is still happy that he decided to call it a day. Making his debut for his county team in 2008 against Monaghan, Chrissy has a list as long as his arm when it comes to achievements with Derry, including a national league medal and two Ulster championships medals and an All-Star in 2022. However, when it comes the star has no time for regrets and concentrates more on the achievements he accomplished along the way. Chrissy McKaigue in action for Derry. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo Sitting down with Extra as part of the launch of this year's Electric Ireland's Minor Championship Chrissy is still immersed in the sport. 'I'm so, heavily involved with GAA still in the day job. I work in a secondary school, coordinating Gaelic games. Not only just boys, Gaelic games, the girls, camogie and ladies football is a heavy part of my remit also. 'I'm back playing football for Slaughtneil, my club and doing bits and pieces of media too regarding GAA.' When it comes to throwing on the county jersey though he said 'I'm content to walk away from Inter-county and I'm actually enjoying the freedom of not having it and put my energy into other facets of it.' Chrissy McKaigue at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship launch. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan 'And like, I didn't want to be that way, but it's just the way I was and It is, it's, it's, it wears heavy after a while and it certainly wears weighs heavy after 16 or 17 years, let me tell you.' The former defender who has come up against some of the best of the best over the years such as Dublin's Diarmuid Connolly and Kerry's David Clifford says it is relief to step away from the intensity of the game. 'I don't have be thinking about football or the pressures of inter-county football, because I don't take any pride in saying this, like I find it really difficult to switch off from the game. When the season started in inter-county until it finished, it probably captured too much of my thinking,' he said. Chrissy McKaigue tussling with Kerry's David Clifford. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Admitting that doing this for several years can take its toll on your mind. Looking forward to this year's season, the Derry man has full confidence in his former team believing that Sam is up for grabs from several contenders. 'It's been so long since we've had so many teams jockeying for possession in the race for Sam,' and this year all bets are off to who will be bringing the trophy home.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McKaigue hopes Derry take 'shackles off' against Armagh
Former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue says he hopes the team can use "low expectations" to their advantage and play "with the shackles off" in Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener against holders Armagh. The Ulster rivals meet at the Athletic Grounds (17:00 BST) after Dublin beat Galway last week to seize early control of Group Four. While Armagh have been forced to regroup after a third Ulster final defeat in a row a fortnight ago, Derry have had six weeks to prepare for their Sam Maguire campaign having exited the provincial competition with defeat by Donegal in the preliminary round. Derry narrowly missed out on reaching an All-Ireland final two years ago, but it has been a tough first season at the helm for manager Paddy Tally, who is yet to win a competitive game and is still without All-Star defenders Gareth McKinless and Conor McCluskey. "Derry are coming in under the radar, the expectations are low within the county, you would feel that, and hopefully that throws the shackles off the players and they play with a bit more freedom," said two-time Ulster Championship winner McKaigue. "Unfortunately for Derry, they still haven't got off the mark this year in terms of winning a competitive game. The longer that goes on the more worrying it is, so if there's a time to win a game it would certainly be this weekend."McKaigue added: "If there's one game Derry would have wanted first, it's Armagh after coming off the back of that heartbreaking Ulster final. "Derry should take hope from that. From what I've heard, they've done a good block of work and are in fine fettle." While Armagh welcome back 2024 All-Ireland final starter Joe McElroy for Saturday's game, Rian O'Neill has not been named in the matchday panel. The All-Star has yet to feature in 2025 after stepping away from the squad for personal reasons, and while Orchard boss Kieran McGeeney said he did not expect the Crossmaglen club-man to return this year, he travelled with the team to the Ulster if O'Neill does not feature on Saturday, his eventual comeback will give Armagh's bid for a second straight Sam Maguire a huge shot in the arm. "Armagh have bucketloads in terms of strength in depth," observed McKaigue. "Alongside Donegal you'd have to say no other squad in Ireland has that depth. "A fit Rian O'Neill is a scary task for anyone and it's great to see him back because he's one of the standout players in the competition." 'Tyrone are dangerous as dark horses' Derry's trip to Armagh precedes the meeting of Donegal and Tyrone in Ballybofey in an intriguing double-header of Ulster derbies on Saturday. Having retained their Ulster crown, Donegal are McKaigue's pick to win the All-Ireland, but he feels Tyrone will relish their underdogs tag against Jim McGuinness' side. "They seem harmonious," the Slaughtneil club-man said of the Red Hands."Even after the defeat against Armagh, it felt like a blip and not a catastrophe. I see Conor Meyler back in the 26 this weekend, Peter Harte and Mattie Donnelly are listed to start, so they've a lovely blend of youth and experience."They have one of the best managers in the game at the moment in Malachy O'Rourke."The task to go to Ballybofey and topple a Jim McGuinness side is a big one, but Tyrone will like being dark horses because they're dangerous when they're in that category." This weekend's All-Ireland SFC fixtures Saturday 24 May (times BST)Group Two: Meath v Cork, Navan, 15:00 Group Three: Louth v Monaghan, Newbridge, 16:45Group Four: Armagh v Derry, Athletic Grounds, 17:00Group One: Donegal v Tyrone, Ballyobfey, 19:00
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
BBC pundits preview Ulster Football final
In a repeat of last year's Ulster final, the defending champions Donegal take on the All-Ireland champions Armagh at a sold-out Clones. The Tir Chonaill men are hoping to retain the title while Armagh are aiming to win the Anglo-Celt cup for the first time since 2008 after penalty shootout defeats to Derry and Donegal in 2023 and 2024. BBC Sport NI will have you fully covered across all platforms on TV coverage begins on BBC Two NI and the BBC iPlayer at 16:55 BST and you can also watch the programme live on the BBC Sport Ladies final will be live on the iPlayer and website from 14: BBC Sport website will be your hub for all of our coverage where our live page will have live text updates, in-play clips, analysis, reaction and highlights. Chrissy McKaigue (Former Derry captain) I'll keep it short and keep it simple, my prediction is Donegal to win by one or two points.I just feel with Jim McGuinness' record in the Ulster Championship that it would be hard to make a case to go against him. That being said he is facing probably one of, if not the most difficult opponents ever in the reigning All-Ireland champions Armagh. I just think that Donegal in their past two games have probably not played to their full potential and if they're primed for a big game I think it might be an Ulster final. It's a difficult one to call and Armagh could very easily win this game present I think that Donegal and Armagh, alongside Galway and Kerry, are amongst the four best teams in the country and if the draw goes the right way you may very well see all four in the All-Ireland Donegal Brendan Devenney (Former Donegal forward) It's a third final in a row for Armagh and in Jim McGuinness' six years as Donegal manager so far he's been in six Ulster finals. It's a remarkable back, who is better this year from last year? From a Donegal perspective the obvious one is Michael Murphy is back in and all that he brings with his experience and game management but, Finbarr Roarty is a massive plus as an attacking big worry for Donegal is whether or not Caolan McGonagle has recovered from injury. He's an absolutely pivotal player at number Armagh and when you look at it, Barry McCambridge wasn't involved in last year's Ulster final and neither was Niall it went down the stretch against Tyrone, Armagh looked very comfortable and very well form of Ethan Rafferty as a fly-keeper has been unreal and just how much he comes out into the field against Donegal remains to be seen and how much pressure can they put on Sean Patton's kickouts when he does come up?A fascinating final is in store. I think they have both improved and it could come down to extra-time and who knows? Maybe penalties will take it with Jamie Brennan coming off the bench to kick the Donegal Oisin McConville (All-Ireland winner with Armagh) It's the game of the year for me and it's been the one I've been looking forward to from when the draw was made and I thought that Donegal and Armagh would be in an Ulster it's a repeat of last year and to be plain and simple, the teams don't like each other. It's bordering on what Tyrone and Armagh were like in the noughties, there's no love lost there at that make any difference? Well it adds a bit of spice to it and there will be ferocity in every single tackle and it's one that is going to be packed out, the atmosphere is going to be electric, and I think everyone just cannot wait for far as the game itself, I think Donegal played in second or third gear the last day out and Armagh were probably put to the pin of their collar by Tyrone and still had the presence of mind to win that ultimate for Armagh would be to win this game on penalties and that would put a lot of ghosts to rest as far as the Ulster Championship and penalty shootouts and everything Armagh Owen Mulligan (Three-time All-Ireland winner with Tyrone) I'm really looking forward to the Ulster two very similar teams with two very similar styles but, I'm going to have to sit on the fence for this one and go for a draw so extra time and penalties!Prediction: Draw after extra-time, penalties to decide Conor McManus (Former Monaghan captain) There doesn't seem to be a weakness in either team. Whatever way you look at it, it's hard to see it not going the having watched the semi-finals, some would claim Armagh are in better form, but an Ulster final is never that simple. Predictions aren't simple either, but I do think it will be a draw. The past three Ulster finals have all needed extra-time and I'm expecting the same on Saturday. Beyond that, penalty shootouts are a lottery, although Armagh haven't had much luck over the past few years. If Armagh don't get a few players back from injury, it may just about tip the scales in Donegal's favour, but I can definitely see it going the Draw after extra-time, penalties to decide
