Derry go through the gears to see off experimental Antrim on Ciaran Meenagh’s return
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section C, round twoDerry 2-16 Antrim 0-7THE Ciaran Meenagh and Mark Doran eras are officially up and running – but it was the Derry boss who got off to a winning start in Wednesday night’s Dr McKenna Cup clash in Owenbeg.Although Doran is well acquainted with Derry football, having managed Sleacht Néill for the last two years, the Down native is still getting to grips with exactly what is at his disposal since taking up the Antrim reins.That is where nights like this - and Sunday’s date with Donegal - will be invaluable as he runs the rule over his panel, having spent the first couple of months on the phone to prospective recruits; the net cast far and wide in a bid to reverse fortunes that have landed the Saffrons in Division Four.And he will have been happy with some of what he saw. Stewartstown native Gerard O’Neill looked lively at wing-back, Kevin McCann made a great block from Niall Loughlin, while the experienced John McNabb was right at home playing county football.The Cargin goalkeeper is well known for his forward forays, and showed his worth when raising the orange flag from just outside the arc at the end of the first half to close the gap to two – 0-9 to 0-7 – as Derry moved through the gears enough times to edge ahead.However, McNabb’s presence among the Antrim attack also caused a few minutes of confusion.Wearing a black jersey with yellow around the neck, remarkably similar to that of referee Enda Mallon, the Armagh whistler was soon over at the sideline asking for a bib.But his purple number didn’t last long as, within minutes, McNabb was called across and told to pull on a green bib.For Meenagh, though, it is far more familiar terrain as the Oak Leafs recorded a first win since beating Westmeath in a July 2024 All-Ireland qualifier. He may be a new boss in name, but the Loughmacrory man’s appointment marks a return to a different time altogether for so many of these Derry players. The tale is well worn by this stage, but during Meenagh’s five years working alongside Damian McErlain - for year one - then Rory Gallagher, Derry rose from Division Four of the National League to claim back-to-back Ulster titles and force their way into All-Ireland contention.It has been far from smooth sailing since their departure, prompting fears that Derry’s moment in the sun may have passed. But, having been involved with Conor Laverty’s Down for the past two years, there is real optimism, among players and supporters, that the ship can be steadied with Meenagh back on board.So what did he learn on Wednesday night that he didn’t already know? Not a whole lot, truth be told. Ethan Doherty showed the spark that made the Oak Leafs such an irresistible force during those years, while Ryan Scullion’s laser-like kick-outs will have caught the eye as Derry audition replacements for the injured Odhran Lynch.With Eoin McEvoy also on the treatment table, Padraig McGrogan went to number three and did well in an occasionally bruising battle with the towering Pat Shivers. Gareth McKinless, meanwhile, shook off some cobwebs on his first proper outing since Ballinderry’s All-Ireland IFC final loss to Crossmolina almost a year ago.Even without Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan, held in reserve after Sleacht Néill hurlers’ All-Ireland campaign, Derry still had enough to keep the experimental Saffrons at bay.Unsurprisingly, the game lost a bit of shape as both counties ran the bench in the second half, Lachlan Murray ending a dreary start to proceedings with the first score 14 minutes in as Antrim kicked six wides in a scoreless 35 to leave Derry in complete control.Paul Cassidy provided a bit of daylight when he placed past McNabb after a clever pass from Ethan Doherty, debutants Conor McAteer and Sean Kearney also got on the scoresheet before Ruairi O Mianain rattled the net in the dying seconds.But there was concern as Conor McCluskey left the field after colliding with McNabb on his way through for a late score. The Magherafelt man hasn’t had his troubles to seek on the injury front in the last year, and Meenagh will be hoping it is nothing too serious with much bigger days to come.Derry R Scullion; C McCluskey 0-1, P McGrogan 0-1, D Baker; S Downey 0-1, G McKinless, M Doherty 0-1; C Doherty 0-1, P Cassidy 1-2 (1tp); J Doherty, M Downey, E Doherty 0-1; N Toner 0-1, N Loughlin 0-1, L Murray 0-3Subs C McAteer 0-1 for Downey (HT), S Kearney 0-2 for J Loughlin (36), S Young for J Doherty (36), R O Mianain 1-0 for S Downey (48), R Mulholland for Baker (52), D Baker for McCluskey (58)Antrim J McNabb 0-2 (tp); J Morgan, K McCann, J McAuley; G O’Neill, E McCabe, M Jordan 0-1; J Carron, P Finnegan; P McBride 0-1, C Small, T McFerran; P Shivers 0-2, D McEnhill 0-1f, A McErlainSubs: S O’Neill for Morgan (26), O Doherty for McFerran (HT), T McCann for Small (41), T Shivers for McErlain (50), R Hagan for G O’Neill (50), P Bradley for McEnhill (50), K Small for Carron (50)Yellow card J Carron (17)Referee E Mallon (Armagh)Att 1,477
