Latest news with #Loughmacrory
The 42
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ciaran Meenagh set to become the next Derry manager
DERRY COUNTY BOARD are set to appoint Ciaran Meenagh as their new senior football manager in the coming days. Meenagh had previously taken charge of Derry in the 2023 season after then-manager Rory Gallagher had to 'step back' from managing the team after allegations of domestic abuse. The Police Service of Northern Ireland investigated the allegations against Gallagher, and forwarded two files to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS), but no charges were brought. Gallagher continues to 'firmly and steadfastly' deny the allegations. Under Meenagh, Derry beat Armagh in the 2023 Ulster final by way of a penalty shootout. They then went on to top their group stages by drawing with Monaghan before beating Donegal and Clare. They beat Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final before going down to Kerry on a 1-17 to 1-15 scoreline in a breathtaking semi-final. Meenagh, a teacher in St Colm's in Draperstown, then left Derry and took up a role as Down selector in Conor Laverty's backroom team for the last two seasons. However, following Paddy Tally's departure from the post, the Loughmacrory man is set to take on his first permanent role as manager. He will become Derry's third consecutive manager from Tyrone following Tally and Mickey Harte. Advertisement It is strongly suspected that former Ulster-winning captain and All-Star Chrissy McKaigue will come into his management team, along with former forward Benny Heron. Meanwhile, Antrim are poised to appoint their former team selector, Paddy Bradley, as their replacement for Andy McEntee. Paddy Bradley. John McVitty / INPHO John McVitty / INPHO / INPHO McEntee had done three seasons with Antrim, who got to the 2009 Ulster final under the guidance of Paddy's father, Liam 'Baker' Bradley. Paddy Bradley has taken a number of management roles around Ulster including a successful period in charge of Dunloy footballers and his own club, Glenullin. He is believed to have assembled a backroom team of fellow Derry men Paul McFlynn (who has previously been with Antrim and was with Derry last year) and Barry Dillon, along with Paul Rouse of Tyrone, who has worked with Dillon at the University of Ulster GAA Academy. Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'It's unreal' - Tyrone's McElholm wins U20 player award
Tyrone's Eoin McElholm says being named the GAA's Under-20 Footballer of the Year is "unreal". McElholm starred as the Red Hands secured back-to-back All-Ireland titles, hitting 2-4 in the victory over Louth in last month's final. The Loughmacrory forward was also one of six Tyrone players - alongside Conan McGarvey, Joey Clarke, Caolan Donnelly, Callum Daly and Ruairi McCullagh - named in the under-20 team of the year."It's something I dreamed of when I started playing under-20s," McElholm told BBC Sport NI. "To win the All-Ireland and win this as well is unreal."McElholm has also featured for the Tyrone seniors this year, coming off the bench in last month's All-Ireland round-robin win over Donegal in Ballybofey. "I've balanced it well," he added."Malachy [O'Rourke, senior manager] and Paul [Devlin, under-20 boss] have definitely communicated well. If I needed to be at senior training I'd be there and if I needed to go to under-20s training I'd be there so it's worked out well and I got the best out of it."McElholm also highlighted the importance of the under-20 grade for young players hoping to break through into senior football. "It's a stepping stone but it's also a competition in itself that will be remembered for years by the boys that won it."It's an unbelievable reward, winning the Under-20 and especially a few boys in the team, including me, won it back-to-back."
RTÉ News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Tyrone get better of Kerry in Under-20 semi-final
Tyrone remain on course for a third All-Ireland Under-20 Football title in four years, after getting the better of Kerry in a repat of last year's decider. They'll face either Mayo or Louth in the 2025 final, thanks to a performance built on defensive resilience at Laois Hire O'Moore Park that earned them a six points success. And up front, their twin strike force, Loughmacrory duo Eoin McElholm and Ruairi McCullagh, delivered again. In last year's final, the pair shared a 0-12 haul, and this time they accounted for 1-13 of the winners' total. Tyrone's attack threat was evident from the opening minute, when McElholm broke through to have a crack at goal. denied by Michael Tansley's brilliant save, with McCullagh converting the resultant '45. And the holders were 0-5 to 0-1 up by the end of the opening quarter, McCullagh adding another couple and McElholm curling over a free. Kerry's sole score in that period came from midfielder Daniel Kirby, their shot selection letting them down on several occasions. But they did create a goal chance when Kirby sent Evan Boyle through, but full back Ben Hughes got a hand in to block the shot. Direct long ball to full forward Tomas Kennedy began to pay dividends, and he won three frees which Paddy Lane converted. They were now winning the scrap for possession around the middle through Kirby, Eddie Healy and Darragh O'Sullivan, with Killian Dennehy sending over a couple of scores as they picked off five in a row to close the gap to a point. But the Ulster champions reasserted themselves, McCullagh converting a two-point free, before Conan Devlin sent Noah Grimes in to smash home their second goal on the half-hour. They led by 2-8 to 0-9 at the interval, and it was in the second half that the Tyrone defence stood tall in the face of waves of attack, with Ben Hughes, Joey Clarke, Callum Daly and substitute Sean Broderick stepping in with vital challenges. Nevertheless, the Munster champions, who had cruised through their provincial series, kept coming, with Kennedy always a threat up front and Kirby and Healy driving it from midfield. Substitute Ronan Carroll scored with his first touch, and a couple of Lane frees narrowed the gap. Ben Murphy broke through to fire in a shot that Red Hand 'keeper Conan McGarvey kept out, and when Kennedy scored from the rebound, just three points separated the sides going into the final seven minutes. But the champions were able to shut out the Kerry attack in those vital closing stages to turn defence to attack with impressive transition, hitting the last three points through McElholm and McCullagh (2). Tyrone: C McGarvey; F Nelis, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; C Daly, J Clarke, C Donnelly, Conan Devlin, C O'Neill; C Sheehy, E McElholm (1-04, 0-01f), M Quinn; N Grimes (1-00), R McCullagh (0-09, 4f, 1tpf, 1'45), L Og Mossey. Subs: S Broderick for Conor Devlin (23), S McDermott (0-01) for Grimes (48), E McDonagh for Sheehy (51), D Donaghy for Mossey (58) Kerry: M Tansley; A O Beaglaoich, G Evans, M Lynch; L Evans, D O'Connor, B Murphy; E Healy (0-02), D Kirby (0-01); C Collins, E Boyle, K Dennehy (0-03); P Lane (0-06, 5f), T Kennedy (0-01), D O'Sullivan.
Belfast Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tyrone supremo Paul Devlin staying cool as Red Hands plot U20 Ulster Championship glory over Donegal
Even though the Loughmacrory clubman was able to whip over a superbly taken point that kept his side in contention, his influence was not quite sufficient to quell Armagh's drive for a place in the Final. Frustration may have been the feeling of McElholm and his Red Hand colleagues in the immediate aftermath of the game, but there may be a ration of compensation on the table on Wednesday night when Tyrone square up to Donegal in the Ulster Under-20 Championship Final at Owenbeg (7.30pm). Given the form that Paul Devlin's Tyrone side have been showing of late, it is no great surprise to see them in the decider again. And they will certainly not be touching their forelocks to a Donegal side that will more than likely bring a competitive edge to the north Derry venue. Indeed, Tyrone's hunger for success, be that at schools', club or county level, has been such of late that their teams have become accustomed to taking delivery of silverware. But manager Devlin is certainly taking nothing for granted in terms of Wednesday night's showdown. 'When you look at it, Donegal have been making progress at schools' and club level and we know that we are in for a tight game. Donegal will certainly be playing on the front foot on this occasion to make a big point,' insists Devlin. The north west side can parade a battery of talent, with players such as Shane Gallagher, Seanen Carr, Conor McCahill, Mark McDevitt and Kevin Muldoon ready to set the tone for their team's performance. But Tyrone are likely to embrace this particular challenge with considerable enthusiasm. If McElholm tends to set a fine example, Ben Hughes, Calum Daly, and Fiachra Nelis are among those who are prepared to take a leaf out of his book. Lob in the work-rate and firepower of players such as Conal Sheehy, Matthew Quinn and Conal Devlin and it's not hard to understand why Tyrone are fired up for the battle. Skipper Joey Clarke will look for his side to make a big impact should they hit the ground running, while his Donegal counterpart Sean Martin invariably leads by splendid example and plays a big part in sustaining his side's momentum. Donegal, indeed, have fired out more than one message of defiance to date, but their 4-19 to 2-07 victory over Cavan thundered out a defiant warning in relation to their aspirations. Tyrone, though, overcame a cohesive Armagh side and also left Derry floundering in their slipstream which would suggest that, should they hit the ground running on Wednesday night, it could prove difficult to deflect from their mission. Yet with both teams committed to an attacking policy, there is every indication that the match could have much to offer, particularly as there is a significant trophy on offer for the winners. It will be all systems go with nothing spared by either side.
