The review of club football across Derry for 2024

Another year has come and gone for Gaelic football within the county of Derry.

Every club has turned their attention to next season and the rule changes that are over the horizon for the sport, well, all but one, Ballinderry, who were recently crowned Ulster intermediate champions at the weekend with victory over Arva.

The Shamrocks will face Munster champions Austin Stacks in the All-Ireland semifinal on January 4.

While they keep their attention on the old iteration of the sport, we shall take a trip down memory lane across the year that has just passed, where some sides will look upon favourably while others will try to forget last season.

The senior season was wrapped up first for Derry counties following Newbridge’s defeat in the Ulster Championship to Clann Éireann in the quarter finals.

However disappointed all those involved with the club were regarding this defeat, it will not wipe the smiles from their faces when they look back at their first Derry Senior Championship title since 1989, bringing to an end the stranglehold Glen had on the trophy for the past three seasons.

This capped off a season of long-awaited trophy wins for sides in this division of Derry football as Kilrea had claimed the league title early in the season, bringing to an end their 43-year wait to taste this glory.

Both clubs will hope their next success in the respective competitions does not take as long, believing they can kick on next season as everyone moves into the unknown.

The season for the Derry clubs that competed at junior level in 2024 was the next one to be completed, and it was heartbreak right at the end of the season for the championship winners, Craigbane.

The side that had competed in the intermediate league campaign performed incredibly well as they finished not far off the top of the table but dropped down to junior level for the championship.

Craigbane walked the championship, facing few sides that could truly compete with them at this level, capturing the title off holders Ballymaguigan in the final.

The youthful side would enjoy a rollercoaster of a provincial campaign reaching a number of highs, particularly their unbelievable comeback victory in the semi-final, before the low of an Ulster final loss to Donegal club Muff at Celtic Park.

Meanwhile the league was claimed by Slaughtmanus, who were desperate to achieve promotion back to the intermediate division.

Joining them back in the intermediate division was Ballerin, who had been lost in the wilderness of the junior league for the past six seasons after they defeated Lissan in the relegation play-off.

Finally, as a Derry club continues to operate in the intermediate division, albeit a side that competed in the senior league, Ballinderry are flying the flag for the county in the All-Ireland club series.

The Shamrocks claimed the Derry Championship title with a victory over Faughanvale, a win that only came after a replay.

This was heartbreak for the Vale in a season that was completely contrasting from 2023.

Faughanvale were in a relegation playoff with bitter rivals Slaughtmanus, but 12 months later they achieved promotion to the senior division after suffering only one defeat in their league campaign, this to the club that claimed the title.

Lavey, that club in question, had a perfect record in that division.

Their only goal was to return to the senior division, a club with the honour of winning the All-Ireland senior football championship in 1991.

The sport has changed as we once knew it, and this could completely change the trajectory each club was on, some for the better and others for worse.

Coaching staff and players will need to get used to the new rules, and the fans of the clubs throughout the Oak Leaf County will wait to see just how their community team is impacted in 2025.