Latest news with #RoryGallagher
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Writer of Jimmy's Winning Matches reveals inspiration behind hit song
The singer Rory Gallagher wrote the song about African sellers The singer and songwriter behind Donegal's football anthem Jimmy's Winning Matches is predicting a four-point victory over Kerry in today's All-Ireland final at Croke Park. Lanzarote-based Rory Gallagher, formerly of The Revs, also reveals that he originally wrote the song about street and beach sellers from Senegal who flog counterfeit goods to tourists in the Canaries. 'It was originally called Jimmy's Selling Watches, but my mother, Mary B, who was in the band Luv Bug with my father, suggested I should change it to Jimmy's Winning Matches when Donegal started doing well under Jim McGuinness,' Rory tells the Sunday World. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th He also reveals how Donegal manager McGuinness has mixed feelings about the song. 'Jim came up to me at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin after the All-Ireland final big celebration (in 2012)…he walked over and he had a big smile on him,' Rory says. 'I thought he was going to give me a hug, but he put his arm around me and whispered into my ear, 'See that song you wrote, it has my head melted!' 'Everybody was shouting it at him in the streets. It was this catchphrase that he didn't want. The good thing about it is that it really freaks out our opponents because they just think 'this guy is destined to win matches.' It's his own fault for having such a high-win ratio. 'It could be worse, it could be Jimmy's losing matches. As long as we win everybody's happy.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
McGuinness' hilarious reaction to Jimmy's Winning Matches after meeting singer
Jim McGuinness told the singer of the famous 'Jimmy's Winning Matches' song that it had his head 'melted' after meeting him. Rory Gallagher from Rory and the Island told of McGuinness' reaction to the song in a social media post this week ahead of the All-Ireland final between Donegal and Kerry. He wrote: "I remember all those years ago Jim McGuinness coming up to me, putting his arm around me and whispering gently into my ear: 'See that song you wrote, it has my head melted!' It got even worse for him when RTE then made a comedy sketch of him walking around Donnybrook and everyone running up to him shouting 'Jimmy's Winning Matches!' as he kept trying to walk away faster!" "But to be honest I think this genuinely stems from his modesty, he always pushes how brilliant the team are and that they do the harder work, and deserve all the credit. "This is why in the 2024 revamp version I released I changed the final chorus lyrics to 'The Team are Winning Matches' . "However, when we see the effect he has had since his return as Donegal manager this past 2 years nobody can deny there is something very special about Jim McGuinness, so even if he gets modestly embarrassed by the song ... it's his own fault... for just constantly Winning Matches!" Rory appeared on Saturday's Up for the Match on RTE and will play at Dtwo in Dublin on Sunday following the final at 7pm.
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ciaran Meenagh confirmed as new Derry football manager
DERRY GAA have confirmed the appointment of Ciaran Meenagh as senior football manager. The Tyrone native first joined the Derry senior football management team in late 2018 and served for five seasons as a coach, and also served as interim manager in 2023 following Rory Gallagher's departure. Meenagh has been part of Conor Laverty's backroom team for the last two seasons and replaces Paddy Tally, who stepped down after one year following a disappointing 2025 campaign in which the team recorded no wins. His previous stint with Derry coincided with an impressive run that included promotion from Division Four to Division One and back-to-back Ulster Senior Football titles. Advertisement The management team for the 2026 season will also include former Derry captain and All-Star footballer Chrissy McKaigue. Delegates also ratified the re-appointment of U20 football (Damian McErlain), Minor football (Kieran Glackin), Senior hurling (Johnny McGarvey), U20 hurling (Ryan O'Neill) and Minor hurling (Danny McGrellis) management teams.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ciarán Meenagh confirmed as Derry's new manager
Ciarán Meenagh has been confirmed as Derry's new manager as he makes his return having acted as interim manager previously. The Tyrone native took over in 2023 and took Derry to Ulster glory after Rory Gallagher stepped away following serious allegations regarding his private life. He replaces the outgoing Paddy Tally, who spent one season in charge of the Ulster side, having informed Down boss Conor Laverty earlier this week that he was departing. Meenagh's backroom team will include Chrissy McKaigue. Following tonight's meeting of Coiste Chontae Dhoire, Derry GAA has confirmed all management teams for 2026. 🔗 — Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) July 24, 2025 Derry recorded no competitive wins in 2025, mustering just one point from their seven Division 1 games and so will start next season back in the second tier for the first time since 2022. The championship saw them lose to Donegal in their Ulster preliminary clash. Performances did pick up in the All-Ireland series and the side were close to getting a morale-boosting win in their meeting with Galway at Celtic Park. The point earned there still left them in contention to progress but Dublin edged the Oak Leafers by two points in the concluding fixture in Derry.
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Paddy Tally's stint as Derry senior football manager ends after one season
Paddy Tally's spell as Derry manager has come to an end after only eight months. Derry's troubled search for a successor to Mickey Harte last year eventually led to Tally's appointment in mid-November for what was to be a three-year term. However, after a difficult season in which Derry failed to win a single game, seeing them relegated from Division One of the National League and exit the championship at the group stages of the All-Ireland series, Tally's tenure has come to a premature end, as first reported in The Irish News. The Tyrone native was not helped by injuries to key players throughout the season and Derry appeared to have rediscovered form in the latter stages of the championship. READ MORE But Tally will not be at the helm in 2026 with Derry now beginning yet another process to find what will be a fifth senior football manager since 2023. Rory Gallagher stepped down before the Ulster final in May 2023 and was replaced on an interim basis by Ciarán Meenagh until the end of that season. Harte was handed the reins for the 2024 campaign but lasted just one year, with Tally succeeding his fellow Tyrone man ahead of the 2025 season. A return for Gallagher to the role could not be ruled out as he was the preferred option of some Derry players last year.
