Ciaran Meenagh endured a difficult first year with Derry with their last-gasp loss to Monaghan exemplifying another frustrating campaign for the Oak Leaf men
To understand where Derry find themselves in the current hierarchy of Gaelic football, it is worth reviewing the madness of the last few seasons.
They’ve had four managers in the last four seasons.
They won back-to-back Ulster titles in 2022 and 2023 and a Division One title in 2024.
They were incredibly unlucky to lose to Kerry in the 2023 All-Ireland SFC semi-final in Croke Park, losing by two points.
That’s as close as Derry have been to an All-Ireland SFC final in recent times, but Glen won the All-Ireland club title in 2024.
There was a sense the club success of the Maghera club coupled with a host of All-Ireland Minor winning teams would supplement the undoubted quality that was already in Derry.
For whatever reason, it just hasn’t happened for Derry.
Ciaran Meenagh, who took over in 2023 following the departure of Rory Gallagher, ended up in Conor Laverty’s backroom back with Down as they won the Tailteann Cup in 2024.
Derry opted to install Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin for the 2024 season. They left after one year.
Paddy Tally, who has since coached Mayo to their first All-Ireland title in 75 years, left after one year in 2025.
Meenagh has just completed his first year and, mercifully, there doesn’t appear to be any desire to oust the Loughmacrory native.
Derry need stability on the sideline before they can have it on the pitch.
Meenagh’s time with Damien McErlain and then Gallagher means he doesn’t have to fight for the trust or the respect of the Derry players and they did at least make some progress in 2026 after failing to win a single game in 2025.
That opening win arrived against Meenagh’s native Tyrone in the League and Derry turned in some impressive showings earlier in the campaign, including a thumping 20-point victory over Cork in Celtic Park.
A round six loss to Louth ultimately cost them their chance of promotion, but Derry still had reason to be optimistic heading into the Championship.
They were strongly fancied to progress to another Ulster final after being pitted against Antrim at home in the first round and avoiding the tougher side of the provincial draw.
Although they accounted for the Saffrons in Celtic Park, disaster unfolded in the Ulster SFC semi-final on a night that defined their season.
Leading by 10 points in a wet and miserable evening at the Box-It Athletic Grounds, the unseasonable weather soon became a metaphor for Derry’s Championship season as they were gradually reeled in by a resurgent Monaghan.
Referee Noel Mooney took a bit of convincing to allow Jack McCarron’s sideline that forced extra-time with Rory Beggan converting a two-point free with the final kick of extra-time to break Derry’s hearts.
Meenagh’s men would return to Armagh City to face the Orchard in Round One.
They gave a good account of themselves, but their race was run when Beggan kicked that winner in the Ulster SFC semi-final.
The second round draw pitted them against Meath in a win-or-bust game.
Derry again played well.
However, they again found themselves on the losing side. It is an issue that predates Meenagh’s tenure.
But the cold facts remain that, in two Championship campaigns, Derry’s sole victory was against Antrim in Celtic Park in April.
Retirements
Derry ought to fare reasonably well in this front with a relatively youthful squad. Of their elder players, Brendan Rogers is 32 and playing both codes for Slaughtneil might soon take its toll, but he was also one of Derry’s best players this term.
Gareth McKinless is the same age and returned to the heart of the Derry defence after a year out with a cruciate injury. It would be a shock if either man stepped away.
Star man
Derry have been crying out for a scoring forward to ease the burden from the talismanic Shane McGuigan for a number of seasons now.
Lachlan Murray really stepped up to the plate in 2026, outscoring the Slaughtneil ace from play in several outings.
His pace is a real asset to Derry while Paul Cassidy and the aforementioned Rogers deserve honourable mentions.
Manager status
Ciaran Meenagh endured a difficult first year with Derry. They did manage to get a couple of wins under their belt in the League.
However, their form dropped alarmingly in the Championship.
Meenagh also remains involved with his club Loughmacrory and they have to navigate a first round replay against Dungannon on Thursday night. Derry could do with unearthing a few more players from the club scene in the coming weeks and months.
Prospects for 2027
Derry looked to be All-Ireland contenders in the spring of 2024. By the spring of 2026, they looked like Championship also-rans.
There’s no shame in losing to Monaghan, Armagh and Meath. It is the manner of those defeats that hurt.
Derry should have had the game wrapped up against the Farney. They should have been closer to Armagh and they had chances against Meath as well.
The same old failings are coming back. Maybe it is scar tissue from the turbulence of recent seasons.
Promotion from Division Two is attainable for Derry next season, albeit it looks tougher than this year when they fell short.
On their day, they are a match for any team in Ulster. From one to 15, they can match Armagh, Donegal, Tyrone or Monaghan.
Yet, Derry still lack depth despite a strong club scene. The return to fitness of Odhran Lynch would help their cause.
The emergence of Ruairi Forbes and Eoin McEvoy alongside Murray has been a real plus, although McEvoy’s best position could be centre back.
James Sargent is another who has a bright future ahead of him.
Derry have also suffered more than most Ulster counties in recent seasons with Glen going to the All-Ireland club final twice in successive years while the Slaughtneil hurlers are often still playing long into the winter months.
Derry certainly have the talent. Whether or not Meenagh can mould them into a team capable of contending for the Sam Maguire remains to be seen. That window might have passed this generation of Derry players by.
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