FÁILTE ÓN CHATHAOIRLEACH give selflessly, for the benefit of the A Chairde Gael, association to which we all belong. I am delighted to welcome you all to our As a county, we have been very fortunate to have so many local showpiece games in the 2019 senior and businesses supporting our teams and competitions. Along with intermediate football championships. the valiant efforts of our much To reach the final of any history books when they hoist the valued Club Derry committee and competition is an achievement in John McLaughlin Cup. members, quite simply, we are itself, but given the current level Today’s games will also be my unable to function. of commitment within our clubs, I last opportunity to attend our It is fitting that two of our most would like to commend the players, championship finals as County experienced and respected officials, coaches, mentors and volunteers, Chairman. I can not over emphasis Barry Cassidy and John Joe Cleary, whose commitment ensures that the enjoyment, pride and delight are taking charge of our showpiece our club championships continue to I have experienced over the past games today. We should remind be so hugely entertaining. 5 years. I would like to thank my ourselves that without our officials, The Mc Feely This year’s championships wife Veronica, and my family, we would not have our games. have provided us all with many for supporting me during my Our association relies heavily moments of drama, excitement, time in post, and also to my club, on the tireless work of our many and brilliance. Those moments Desertmartin, my fellow officers volunteers; I want to acknowledge have culminated to see today’s who served on the County the dedicated team of stewards participating clubs seeking victory Committee, our staff at Owenbeg and officials, both here at Celtic Group to bridge a series of gaps in time. and Celtic Park, and the many Park, and at Owenbeg. Each year, Whilst all victories are to be gaels from the clubs in our county, our county ground plays host to savoured, I think it’s safe to say our and beyond, who I have had the the largest sporting events in the Margaret McLaughlin Margaret respective winners today will bring pleasure to cross paths with over North-West, for that we continue to unbridled joy to their clubs, families the past 5 years. be indebted to our volunteers. and parish. Seeing our teams playing in I sign off with immense pride, I Photo: Foreglen and Claudy have been provincial and national finals are consider it an honour to have have at the forefront of Intermediate definitely great days for us all, but the opportunity to hold the position football for a considerable time, to witness the many young gaels of Cathaoirleach in our wonderful, with both competing at senior who participate from Go-Games Oakleaf County. level in recent years. Today’s through the grades to senior, in Finally, I wish all players and game presents both clubs with all codes, are the days that give officials, the very best of luck in their the opportunity to cement that most satisfaction. We should not games today. presence, by adding their name to forget where we belong, and I look Enjoy the games, thank you for the Bateson, Sheridan, Lee trophy. forward to seeing the number of your continued support, and every In our senior final, we see a return participants in our games continue best wish for the future. to the “top table” for two of our to rise, and with it our games to Go raibh maith agat. most recognisable clubs, Watty flourish. I am proud to say we have Graham’s, Glen and O’Donovan also seen All-Ireland Scór titles Brian MacGabhann Rossa, Magherafelt. Both clubs, brought to the Oakleaf county in Cathaoirleach, today have the opportunity to most that time. It should be remembered Coiste Chontae Dhoire definitely write themselves in to the the amount of time our volunteers Proud sponsor of the Co. Derry Intermediate AMHRÁN NA BHFIANN Sinne Fianna Fáil Singing Amhrán na bhfiann today is A tá fé gheall ag Éirinn, the Derry Scór Sinsir Amhránaoicht buion dár slua Aonair champion Clódagh McBride Football Championship Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn, from the John Mitchell’s club in Fé mhóid bheith saor. Glenullin. Clodagh is 22 years of Sean tír ár sinsir feasta age and recently graduated from Ní fhagfar fé’n tiorán ná fé’n tráil Ulster University Jordanstown. She is currently working as a Speech and Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil, Language Therapist in the Northern Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil Trust. Clodagh has been taking part in Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar Scór for many years and is a member Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann. of the Derry Scór Youth Committee. 20 Deireadh Fómhair, 2019 | PAIRC NA GCEILTEACH, DOIRE 3 CLAR Sunday 20th October 2019 | Celtic Park McFeely Group Intermediate Football O’Neills Senior Football Championship Final Championship Final O’DONOVAN ROSSA MAGHERAFELT O’BRIEN’S GFC, FOREGLEN vs WATTY GRAHAM’S GLEN vs JOHN MITCHEL’S GAC, CLAUDY 3.40pm Magherafelt amach ar an bPáirc - 1.40pm Foreglen amach ar an bPáirc - Brandywell Brandywell End End 3.42pm Glen amach ar an bPáirc - Changing 1.42pm Claudy amach ar an bPáirc - Changing Rooms End Rooms End 3.48pm Oifigigh an Cluiche amach ar an bPáirc 1.50pm Oifigigh an Cluiche amach ar an bPáirc 3.50pm Captains forward for Coin Toss 1.55pm Captains forward for Coin Toss 3.55pm Teams line up behind Pipers for Parade 2.00pm Throw in 3.58pm Amhran na bhfiann 4.00pm Throw In 4.35pm Half-time games: Magherafelt v Glen Scór musicians Magherafelt and Glen clubs PROUD SPONSORS OF DERRY GAA WWW.HAMECHANICALSERVICES.COM RIVERRIDGE DEVELOPMENT SQUADS SKILLS TEST WINNERS 2019 The results of our RiverRidge Skills These players will today each receive a presentation. A word of thanks to all our coaches, Test this year reflects a growing and to James McGurk, Steelwtown, who co- improvement overall with two ordinates the various Skills Competitions. We are grateful to RiverRidge for their continuing support players scoring the maximum points of our next generation of Derry players. available – namely Darragh Rafferty and Sean Mc Keever of the Under 20 panel. Our Feile Skills winner, Ryan Mc Nicholl, went on to win the All Ireland Feile Skills Competition and our congratulations to him and to all our winners. Our winners are: U20: Sean McKeever, Dungiven U15: Ruairí Ó’Mianáin, Slaughtneil U14 Feile: Ryan McNicholl, Glenullin* Ryan also won the All Ireland Feile Skills competition Primary School: Ceadach O’Neill, Kilrea 4 Cluiche Ceannais Sinsear Iomána Dhoire 20 Deireadh Fómhair, 2019 | PAIRC NA GCEILTEACH, DOIRE 5 by ODHRÁN CRUMLEY by ODHRÁN CRUMLEY DERRY INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL DERRY SENIOR FOOTBALL FINAL 2019 PREVIEW FINAL 2019 PREVIEW O’ BRIENS FOREGLEN O’DONOVAN ROSSA vs JOHN MITCHEL’S CLAUDY vs WATTY GRAHAMS “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all “This is the beginning of the rest of your life. your mind and love thy neighbour as thyself.” – Matthew 22 37:38 You better start moving like your running out They say that familiarity breeds Aaron Kerrigan free to salvage a forward would simply malfunction contempt. draw. without his presence. of time…” – Gerry Cinnamon, Canter In recent times, the meetings In the replay they fell six behind He caused Claudy untold problems between these two on the field have before their leader, Marty Donaghy in the league meeting so, you can A novel pairing for a county final, But, they won’t want to take won’t know about their opponents been infrequent. steadied the ship as, and their deadly be sure these two will be in for closer two teams with undoubted quality the plaudits of just reaching the and it’s unlikely that there will be Years passed without this local ‘Old firepower took over Donaghy, Blaine inspection this weekend. but, very little or no tradition at the decider, they’ll want to crack that many switches to the teams that Firm’ as first Foreglen languished in Carlin and Callum McElhinney. Both net-minders have been top table of Derry football. glass ceiling and claim a maiden have got their clubs to this point. the top tier, once they had their fall, Goals win games and Emmett steady in Tiernan Burke and Kieran The fact remains that no one crown. Magherafelt will look to Shane the Mitchell’s rose to senior ball and McKeever will know full well that his Reilly have been steady with more of would have paired these two as the They overcame Loup and Lavey in Heavron for the brunt of their scores all of a sudden it was bordering on six charges have that in abundance. the same required today. decider in their pre-championship the opening rounds, no mean feat and he has provided to this point years since their last duel. His counterpart, Philly Muldoon The midfield battle will be predictions. but, nothing that would send real especially, on the free-taking front. In that time a record akin to the will know full well of this threat but in intriguing and the McGahon brothers In fact, a finale without either shockwaves throughout the county. Cormac Murphy and Emmett Undertaker at Wrestlemania began Kevin O’Connor he has a player for will definitely come up against Mark Slaughtneil or Coleraine or Their semi-final clash with McGuckin will need watching inside to grow, the latest high stool synopsis all ages.