Derry county football team

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.

The Derry starting fifteen which lost to Dublin in the 1958 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Derry's home ground is Celtic Park. The team's manager is Damian Barton.

The team last won the Ulster Senior Championship in 1998, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 1993 and the National League in 2008.

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

History
The Derry team ahead of the 2009 National League Final

In 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 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.[4]

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.[5]

Derry were relegated to Division 4 in 2018.[6]

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.[7]

Current squad

Team as per Derry vs Tyrone in the Ulster SFC quarter-final, 28 May 2017[8]

No. Player Position Club
1 Ben McKinless Goalkeeper Ballinderry
2 Niall Keenan Right Corner Back Castledawson
3 Brendan Rogers Full Back Slaughtneil
4 Karl McKaigue Left Corner Back Slaughtneil
5 Ciaran McFaul Right Half Back Glen
6 Chrissy McKaigue Centre Back Slaughtneil
7 Carlus McWilliams Left Half Back Ballinascreen
8 Conor McAtamney Midfield Swatragh
9 Danny Heavron Midfield Magherafelt
10 Ryan Bell Right Half Forward Ballinderry
11 Niall Loughlin Centre Forward Greenlough
12 Enda Lynn (c) Left Half Forward Greenlough
13 Danny Tallon Right Corner Forward Glen
14 Emmett McGuckin Full Forward Magherafelt
15 Benny Heron Left Corner Forward Ballinascreen
No. Player Position Club
16 Conor McLarnon Substitute Magherafelt
17 Michael McEvoy Substitute Magherafelt
18 Shane McGuigan Substitute Slaughtneil
19 Conor Nevin Substitute Ballinderry
20 Mark Lynch Substitute Banagher
21 Charlie Kielt Substitute Kilrea
22 Peter Hagan Substitute Banagher
23 Oisin Duffin Substitute Ballinderry
24 Conor McGrogan Substitute Newbridge
25 Gavin O’Neil Substitute Banagher
25 Conor Doherty Substitute Newbridge

Current management team

Managerial history
Dates Name
????–1946 Unknown
1947 John L. Fay
1948–1957 Unknown
1958–1959 Roddy Gribbin
1960-67 Unknown
1968–1971 Jim McKeever
1971–1972 Paddy O'Hara
1972–1974 Harry Cassidy
1975-79 Frank Kearney
1980–1984 Mickey Moran
1985 Tom Scullion
1986-88 Tom Scullion, Jim McKeever & Phil Stuart
1989-90 Tommy Diamond
1990 Fr Seán Hegarty
1991–1994 Eamonn Coleman
1995 Mickey Moran
1996–1998 Brian Mullins
1999 Eamonn Coleman and Adrian Mc Guckian
2000–2002 Eamonn Coleman
2003–2005 Mickey Moran
2006–2008 Paddy Crozier
2009–2010 Damian Cassidy
2010–2012 John Brennan
2013–2015[9][10] Brian McIver
2016-2017[11] Damian Barton
2018-2019 Damian McErlain
2019- Rory Gallagher

Players

Notable players

For details on former players, see List of Derry Gaelic footballers and Category:Derry Gaelic footballers.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Player Debut Last Game Position Club
Tommy Gribben 1945 1958 Midfield Bellaghy
Jim McKeever 1948 1962 Midfield Ballymaguigan
Sean O'Connell 1957 1977 Full forward Ballerin
Larry Diamond 1963 1978 Midfield Bellaghy
Eamonn Coleman 1968 1974 Forward Ballymaguigan
Anthony McGurk 1970 1982 Back / forward Lavey
Mickey Moran 1970 1982 Forward / back Glen
Damian Cassidy 1983 1996 Left half forward Bellaghy
Dermot McNicholl 1983 1996 Half forward Glenullin
Tony Scullion 1983 1996 Full back Ballinascreen
Enda Gormley 1985 2001 Left corner forward Glen
Brian McGilligan 1986 1996 Midfield Dungiven
Danny Quinn 1987 1996 Full back Bellaghy
Henry Downey 1988 2001 Centre half back Lavey
Kieran McKeever 1988 2002 Right corner back Dungiven
Joe Brolly 1990 2000 Right corner forward Dungiven
Anthony Tohill 1991 2003 Midfield Swatragh
Seán Marty Lockhart 1995 2009 Corner back Banagher
Enda Muldoon 1997 2011 Forward / midfield Ballinderry
Paddy Bradley 1999 2012 Full forward Glenullin
Fergal Doherty 2001 2015 Midfield Bellaghy
Mark Lynch 2004 2018 Forward Banagher

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

    All Stars

    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 was known as Cú Chulainn awards. In 1971 these awards were formalised into the annual All Stars Awards. Including Sean O'Connell's Cú Chulainn award in 1967, Derry have received 28 All Stars.

    1967: Sean O'Connell[A]
    1973: Anthony McGurk
    1975: Peter Stevenson, Anthony McGurk2nd, Gerry McElhinney
    1984: Dermot McNicholl
    1987: Tony Scullion, Brian McGilligan
    1992: Tony Scullion2nd, Anthony Tohill, Enda Gormley
    1993: Tony Scullion3rd, Johnny McGurk, Henry Downey, Gary Coleman, Anthony Tohill2nd, Brian McGilligan2nd, Enda Gormley2nd
    1995: Tony Scullion4th, Anthony Tohill3rd
    1996: Joe Brolly
    1997: Joe Brolly2nd
    1998: Seán Marty Lockhart
    2000: Kieran McKeever, Anthony Tohill4th
    2004: Enda Muldoon
    2007: Kevin McCloy, Paddy Bradley[12]

    Player 1973 1975 1984 1987 1992 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2004 2007
    Anthony McGurkYY
    Peter StevensonY
    Gerry McElhinneyY
    Dermot McNichollY
    Tony ScullionYYYY
    Brian McGilliganYY
    Anthony TohillYYYY
    Enda GormleyYY
    Johnny McGurkY
    Henry DowneyY
    Gary ColemanY
    Joe BrollyYY
    Sean Martin LockhartY
    Kieran McKeeverY
    Enda MuldoonY
    Kevin McCloyY
    Paddy BradleyY

    GPA Gaelic Football Team of the Year

    Since 2006 the Gaelic Players Association have chosen their 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 the table is incomplete.

    Player Appearances Years
    Seán Marty Lockhart 16 1998 (2), 1999 (2), 2000 (2), 2001 (2), 2003 (2), 2004 (2), 2005 (2), 2006 (2)
    Anthony Tohill 8 1998 (2), 1999 (2), 2000 (2), 2001 (2)
    Paddy Bradley 2 2008 (2)
    Dermot McNicholl 9 1984 (3), 1986 (3), 1987 (3)
    Brian McGilligan 6 1986 (3) 1987 (3)
    Tony Scullion 4 1987 (1) 1990 (3)

    Player statistics

    Championship top scorers
    • End of 2019 Championship
    • 100+ Points Total
    Player Debut Opposition Appearances Goals Points Final Game Opposition Total Score
    Paddy Bradley 14/05/2000 Cavan 51 17 202 30/06/2012 Longford 253
    Sean O'Connell 09/06/1957 Antrim 38 12 120 25/06/1976 Cavan 156
    Anthony Tohill 30/06/1991 Down 52 4 128 28/06/2003 Dublin 140
    Enda Gormley 01/06/1986 Tyrone 34 2 118 02/07/2000 Antrim 124
    Mark Lynch 24/07/2004 Limerick 54 6 101 09/06/2018 Kildare 119
    Enda Muldoon 01/06/1997 Monaghan 54 11 84 23/07/2011 Kildare 117

    Championship appearances
    • End of 2019 Championship
    • 50+ Appearances
    Player Debut Opposition Appearances Final Game Opposition
    Enda Muldoon 01/06/1997 Monaghan 54 23/07/2011 Kildare
    Mark Lynch 24/07/2004 Limerick 54 09/06/2018 Kildare
    Anthony Tohill 30/06/1991 Down 52 28/06/2003 Dublin
    Paddy Bradley 14/05/2000 Cavan 51 30/06/2012 Longford
    Seán Marty Lockhart 02/06/1996 Armagh 50 18/07/2009 Donegal

    Championship single score
    • End of 2019 Championship
    • 10+ Points Total
    Player Date Opposition Goals POints Total
    Paddy Bradley 05/06/2005 Monaghan 1 10 13
    Paddy Bradley 15/07/2006 Longford 2 7 13
    Brendan Kelly 19/06/1977 Tyrone 2 5 11
    Paddy Bradley 12/06/2004 Wicklow 1 8 11
    Micky Niblock 25/07/1971 Down 2 4 10

    Championship season score
    • End of 2019 Championship
    • 30+ Points Total
    Player First Game Opposition Appearances Goals Points Final Game Opposition Total Score
    Paddy Bradley 09/05/2004 Tyrone 7 2 38 29/08/2004 Kerry 44
    Paddy Bradley 05/06/2005 Monaghan 5 2 29 06/08/2005 Laois 35
    Enda Muldoon 19/05/2004 Tyrone 7 3 24 29/08/2004 Kerry 33

    NFL top scorers
    • End of 2019 National League
    • 100+ Points Total
    Player Debut Opposition Appearances Goals Points Final Game Opposition Total Score
    Paddy Bradley 31/10/1999 Mayo 85 14 324 08/04/12 Westmeath 366
    Sean O'Connell 15/09/1957 Antrim 84 25 242 02/05/1976 Dublin 317
    Anthony Tohill 27/10/1991 Meath 72 14 155 31/03/2002 Down 197
    Enda Gormley 13/10/1985 Antrim 62 7 164 15/04/201 Fermanagh 185
    Joe Brolly 07/10/1990 Cavan 63 12 138 11/04/1999 Cork 174
    Mark Lynch 06/02/2005 Meath 80 8 145 25/03/2018 Sligo 169
    James Kielt 01/02/2009 Mayo 54 5 125 25/03/2018 Sligo 140
    Conleith Gilligan 20/05/2000 Meath 54 6 106 25/03/2012 Louth 124
    Eoin Bradley 02/06/2005 Meath 56 4 106 03/04/2016 Armagh 118
    Brendan Kelly 20/10/1674 Tyrone 37 5 89 02/05/1976 Dublin 104
    JE Mullan 17/03/1940 Sligo 39 18 46 13/05/1955 Armagh 100

    NFL appearances
    • End of 2019 NFL
    • 80+ Appearances
    Player Debut Opposition Appearances Final Game Opposition
    Tony Scullion 13/02/1983 Armagh 95 05/05/1996 Donegal
    Kieran McKeever 31/01/1988 Monaghan 89 08/04/2001 Cavan
    Paddy Bradley 31/10/1999 Mayo 85 08/04/2012 Westmeath
    Sean O'Connell 15/09/1957 Mayo 84 02/05/1976 Dublin
    Mark Lynch 06/02/2005 Meath 80 25/03/2018 Sligo

    NFL single score
    • End of 2019 League
    • 10+ Points Total
    Player Date Opposition Goals Points Total
    Paddy Bradley 07/03/2004 Waterford 3 9 18
    Paddy Bradley 03/04/2005 Tipperary 1 13 16
    Matt Regan 29/10/1939 Tyrone 5 0 15
    Sean O'Connell 12/03/1967 Armagh 4 3 15
    JE Mullan 16/09/1951 Fermanagh 2 5 11
    Paddy Bradley 23/02/2003 Monaghan 3 2 11
    Mark Lynch 16/03/2014 Dublin 1 8 11
    Emmett Bradley 18/02/2018 Offaly 1 8 11
    Shane McGuigan 16/03/2019 Leitrim 2 5 11
    Sean O'Connell 05/02/1967 Down 3 1 10
    Shane McGuigan 23/02/2020 Louth 1 7 10

    NFL season score
    • End of 2019 National League
    • 50+ Points Total
    Player First Game Opposition Appearances Goals Points Final Game Opposition Total Score
    Paddy Bradley 06/02/2005 Meath 8 2 44 24/04/2005 Monaghan 50
    Mark Lynch 01/02/2014 Tyrone 8 2 44 27/04/2014 Dublin 50

    Honours
    Former Derry manager Paddy Crozier and Kevin McCloy celebrate winning the 2008 National League

    For more details on this topic including team line-ups, see here

    Senior
    1993
    1947, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2008
    1958, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1987, 1993, 1998
    1947, 1954, 1958, 1960, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1993, 1999, 2011[13]
    1945, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1959,
    1945, 1950, 1953, 1955, 1964, 1967, 1969

    Under-21
    1968, 1997
    1967, 1968, 1976, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1997

    Minor
    1965, 1983, 1989, 2002
    1965, 1969, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2015, 2017[14]

    School
    1979, 1980, 1981
    • Ulster Vocational Schools Championship: ?
    ?

    References
    1. Barry, Stephen (30 January 2018). "'It will not happen again': BBC apologise for Londonderry GAA reference". Irish Examiner.
    2. "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. Sidebottom, Mark (22 June 2020). "Callum Brown: Limavady lad's racism rethink as he forges Aussie Rules career". He won the penalty which yielded the Oak Leafers' only goal, but Derry were beaten out the gate.
    4. Rodgers, Alan (10 October 2008). "Experts say Tyrone rank among the best". Gaelic Life. pp. 20–21.
    5. Damian Barton: Derry football manager handed eight-week ban BBC Sport
    6. Derry relegated to Division 4 just four years after reaching Division 1 final The42.ie
    7. Brolly, Joe (23 August 2020). "The possibility of not entering a senior team in the championship may sound radical, but it is the inevitable". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 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...
    8. Ulster SFC quarter-final: Derry 0-11 0-22 Tyrone BBC Sport
    9. Brian McIver is appointed as the new Derry football boss BBC Sport
    10. Brian McIver lambasts referee as he quits Derry after Galway defeat BBC Sport
    11. Damian Barton named as new Derry football manager BBC Sport
    12. Football All Stars 2007 RTÉ Sport
    13. Dr McKenna Cup: Thrilling final that was worth the wait Belfast Telegraph
    14. "Ulster MFC: Well drilled Derry capture title in style". Hogan Stand. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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