2025 - Another year of what-ifs for Derry hurling

As the curtain came down on 2025, it was easy to look back on another year of what-ifs for Derry hurling.

In many ways, it proved an almost carbon copy of the season before, both at inter-county and club level, with the Oak Leaf County again falling just short.

Derry failed to make the breakthrough in the Christy Ring Cup, while Slaughtneil’s long-standing All-Ireland semi-final hoodoo continued.

Johnny McGarvey’s men made steady progress early in the year, securing their Division 2 status in the National Hurling League with a final-round mauling of Donegal that ensured they steered clear of relegation.

Narrow victories over Tyrone and an impressive win against Meath further underlined their development. Derry were without many of their Slaughtneil stars for much of the league, with the Robert Emmets club campaign only coming to an end in late December following their one-point defeat to Sarsfields of Cork in the AIB club semi-final.

Na Magha's Brendan Quigley makes a break with the sliotar in the Derry Junior Hurling Championship semi-final against Banagher

That sense of progression continued when the Christy Ring Cup rolled around. Having suffered defeat in three of the previous four finals, optimism was high that this would finally be Derry’s year. However, a dogged and physical London side stood in their way at Croke Park, and it was the Exiles who ultimately claimed the spoils.

It was a game in which the Foylesiders never truly got going, and the rub of the green stubbornly refused to appear. London brought fierce intensity and physicality, while McGarvey’s side could feel aggrieved to come out on the wrong side of several refereeing decisions.

David Devine was the standout performer for London, striking 1-12 of their total. Thomas Brady responded with a spectacular goal shortly after Devine’s, but it was the Exiles who edged a narrow 1-27 to 1-24 victory, consigning Derry to another season in Tier Three.

Despite the final disappointment, Derry had been impressive throughout the round-robin stages, finishing top of the standings. Their only defeat came against Meath, who had been relegated from the Joe McDonagh Cup the previous year by a single point.

Slaughtneil’s Cormac O’Doherty was in inspired form throughout the campaign, averaging nine points per game. His stunning 1-13 against Wicklow was the highest individual tally recorded by any player in last year’s competition. Christy McNaughton, son of the legendary Sambo, contributed 1-9 in Derry’s crucial opening-round victory over Donegal, a 1-21 to 1-17 success.

It proved a difficult year at underage level for the county. Ryan O’Neill’s under-20 side endured a tough Ulster campaign, suffering heavy defeat to Antrim before narrowly losing to Down by a single point. In the All-Ireland U20 B Championship, Derry eased past Sligo before again falling again to eventual champions Down in a thrilling semi-final, losing 4-15 to 2-16.

At minor level, Danny McGrellis’s young Derry side came agonisingly close to setting up an Ulster final showdown with Antrim, missing out only on scoring difference to Down.

Domestically, Slaughtneil continued their stranglehold on Derry hurling, lifting a remarkable thirteenth successive Fr Collins Cup after defeating Kevin Lynch’s in the county final. The county kingpins then went on to overcome Portaferry and St John’s of Belfast to claim the Ulster title, securing back-to-back provincial crowns for the second time and their sixth since 2013.

Lavey players disappointment at the end of the Junior Hurling final at Celtic Park. (Photos: Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

However, Paul McCormack’s men once again fell at the penultimate hurdle. This time, they were comprehensively outclassed by a slick and clinical Loughrea side from Galway just before Christmas. The 2-22 to 0-15 defeat at Parnell Park marked Slaughtneil’s sixth All-Ireland semi-final loss and leaves them facing another long wait before their next opportunity.

At intermediate level, Swatragh exited the Ulster Championship at the first hurdle, suffering a disappointing 0-19 to 0-14 defeat to Lisbellaw of Fermanagh. Back-to-back Derry champions Michael Davitts will also feel aggrieved, having lost last year’s provincial decider by the narrowest of margins to Carey Faughs.

IN PICTURES: Holders St Patrick's exit MacRory Cup in shock upset

They were defeated by Newry's Abbey CBS at Celtic Park on Sunday

Former Shelbourne captain Mark Coyle joins Coleraine

The Donegal native joined the Reds from Finn Harps in 2022, and he spent four seasons at Tolka Park, making 132 appearances before being named captain in 2023

There was some consolation, however, in the form of Erin’s Own Lavey. The youthful side secured their third-ever intermediate title as the eighteen-time Derry senior champions continued their resurgence. Having fallen to eventual Ulster champions Ballinascreen in 2024, Lavey got over the line against Banagher in the county final before defeating Cootehill Celtic of Cavan and Armagh’s Cúchulainn Gaels.

That run set up an Ulster final clash with Donegal neighbours Burt, who ultimately proved a step too far.

The Donegal men claimed a dramatic 0-20 to 1-16 victory at Celtic Park, with Liam McKinney central to their success, striking 0-10 on the day.