Michael Kirkpatrick is no stranger to the Oakleaf shirt but a return to the squad see’s a new position for the Swatragh native, writes Brendan McTaggart writes…..
“I always hoped that I could get back into the squad and I suppose when you miss out on a run out in Croke Park it kind of gives you extra motivation and hunger.”
The words of Derry goal-keeper and Swatragh man Michael Kirkpatrick.
Known more for his prowess further out the field for his own club, Kirkpatrick will be donning the number one shirt for the Oakleafers in the 2018 season and the Swatragh man told us that he was happy to answer the call: “It’s not something that’s totally alien to me. I played goals for Derry before and when I was asked, I was more than happy to make myself available. I normally play in the forwards for Swatragh but if it meant playing in a Derry shirt again I’ll play wherever they want me to.”
It’ll be three years since Kirkpatrick was last part of the Derry senior hurling set up and with major changes in the make-up of the Oakleaf squad for the 2018 Nation League campaign, it’s easy to see why team manager Collie McGurk has made the call to Kirkpatrick.
“It’s been a few years since I have been part of the squad with work commitments and injuries, but Collie’s been great with that respect.
“With my line of work, it’s not possible for me to get to every training session. Collie understands that and understands what it takes to compete at inter-county level.
“He has allowed flexibility when it comes to trainings but has put onus back onto me so that I do what I can in between times.”
Kirkpatrick, despite his age, is the second oldest member of the current Derry panel with Brendan Quigley marginally older.
He doesn’t see himself as a role model but does hope he can show a good example: “I’m 31 on my next birthday and I’m the second oldest in the squad.
“I wouldn’t class myself as a role model as such for the younger boys coming through, I enjoy a laugh when it’s time for laughing but when the time comes to get serious I knuckle down and maybe if the younger lads see that there can a difference then it would benefit them.”
The Derry squad for the forthcoming Division 2B campaign will bear little resemblance to the list of men that wore the red and white shirt in Croke Park against Armagh in the Nicky Rackard Cup final last June.
Collie McGurk and his backroom team of Kevin Kelly and Mickey Glover will be without the talents of the 14 strong Slaughtneil contingent and have been hit with a string of retirements. Kirkpatrick decided to look at the silver lining rather than dwell on departures: “The boys that have gone would leave a hole in any squad in Ulster and Ireland. They’re a massive loss for Derry hurling.
“Liam (Hinphey), Kevin (Hinphey) and big Ruairi (Convery) to name just off the top of my head all put in 10 and 15 years’ service in a Derry shirt and that won’t be forgotten but it’s now time for the next Ruairi, Liam or Kevin to step up to the plate and fill the shoes.”
With Convery’s departure from the county scene, Kirkpatrick is one of just three me from the Swa who are part of the squad but Kirkpatrick speaks highly of his clubmates: “Patrick Turner and Eoin O’Kane are there as well. Eoin’s just out of minors but has shown he has all the ability in the world. It’s these boys that are the future of Derry hurling and I think Collie’s doing it right by throwing them in at the deep end. It’ll do them no harm playing at this level and they’ll learn fast what it takes at inter-county level.”
Derry start their campaign with an Ulster derby and a home match against Down and while Kirkpatrick tells us that there is a rebuilding process once again within the Oakleaf county, they remain confident going into the league.
“We play them (Down) in a double header along with the footballers and it’s a very winnable match for us,'' he said.
“They aren’t firing on all cylinders themselves at the minute and it goes without saying that we want to start the campaign off with a win. Our main aim is to stay in the Division but if we get off to a good start then why not consider something more?
“We don’t but into the reasoning that we’re the third best team in Ulster, if we have our full squad available then we can be a match if not more for anyone, but we want to get as many points on the board as we possibly can early doors. Relegation just isn’t an option.”
VERDICT
The life, times and reality of being a Derry manager. Collie McGurk has the services of just three of his starting 15 from the Nicky Rackard Final available for the league, Alan Grant, Oisin McCloskey and Paul Cleary the only survivors while Paddy Turner is out with a long-term injury. They start the league with 12 retirements from last years squad so to say they are rebuilding is an understatement when you also consider the fact they are missing a contingent from Ulster club champions, Slaughtneil and Cian Waldron who is still on club duty with Dublin side Cuala.
McGurk is still hopeful that he will have close to the 2017 Nicky Rackard squad available for a tilt at the Christy Ring Cup and it will largely depend on their availability on how successful their season could finish, although he and his management team are aware of the need for Slaughtneil’s dual players to have a prolonged rest after their club exertions.
McGurk has filled his squad with potential for the coming season with the likes of Tim Rankin, Aidan O’Donnell and Ciaran Lagan promoted from last years U21 squad while Liam Murphy is brought into the senior set-up from the U19’s. The addition of Jack Phelan, now of Banagher but previously of Cuala will strengthen McGurk’s options around the middle of the park and half back line while the potential of Seamus Higgins, Darragh Cartin, Ciaran Steele and Oran McKeever has been well known within the Oakleaf county for a while now and how they deal with inter-county hurling will determine how Derry’s league campaign transpires. Division 2b status for 2019 is well within reach with some serious potential for success in the Christy Ring in the early summer.
ONE’S TO WATCH
Collie McGurk and his management team are definitely looking to the future with the squad they have named for League. Na Magha’s Alan Grant has been a steady performer in an Oakleaf short for a number of years and is one of only three survivors from the starting 15 that beat Armagh in the Nicky Rackard Cup final, Oisin McCloskey and Paul Cleary making up the trio.
Kevin Lynch’s are current Ulster minor club hurling champions and have a conveyor belt of talent coming through the ranks in Dungiven. John Mullan, Odhran McKeever and Seamus Higgins have been catching the eye for a number of years for the Lynch’s and are capable of mixing it with the best while Lavey man Liam Murphy has been promoted from the U19’s to the senior set up after a string of fine performances for the Erin’s Own men on their Ulster intermediate championship journey. The Oakleaf support will be keen to see what the addition of Jack Phelan has to offer McGurk’s side. A versatile player that’s who is capable at either midfield or half back, big things are expected from the Banagher clubman after his transfer from All-Ireland club champions Cuala.
DERRY
2018 FIXTURES
NHL Division 2B:
Sun January 28 (Celtic Park, 12.30pm): Down
Sun February 4 (Letterkenny, 12.30pm): Donegal
Sun February 18: (Celtic Park, 2pm): Mayo
Sun February 25: (Celtic Park, 2pm): Armagh
Sun March 4: (Aughrim, 2.30pm): Wicklow
2018 Ulster SHC: TBC
Derry in semi-finals draw with Antrim, Armagh, and Down
2018 Christy Ring Cup (tier three)
Group 2 Round 1 (Sat May 12): Derry v London
Group 2 Round 2 (Sat May 19): Armagh v Derry
Group 2 Round 3 (Sat June 2): Derry v Down
RECENT NHL RECORD
2017: Division: 2B; Points tally: 4; Finished: fourth of six
2016: Division: 2A; Points tally: 0; Finished: bottom of six, relegated to 2B
2015: Division: 2A; Points tally: 5; Finished: fourth of six
2014: Division: 2A; Points tally: 5; Finished: third of six
2013: Division: 2A; Points tally: 4; Finished: fourth of six
2017 RESULTS
NHL Division 2B
Mayo 1-13 Derry 1-14
Meath 2-19 Derry 0-16
Derry 1-11 Wicklow 1-21
Derry 3-16 Roscommon 0-12
Down 2-22 Derry 2-15
2017 NHL Division 2B table
P W D L F A SD Pts
Meath 5 5 0 0 13-98 3-73 55 10
Wicklow 5 4 0 1 7-89 5-68 27 8
Down 5 3 0 2 6-87 8-82 -1 6
Derry 5 2 0 3 7-71 6-87 -13 4
Mayo 5 1 0 4 3-78 9-87 -27 2
Roscommon 5 0 0 5 4-65 9-91 -41 0
2017 Ulster SHC Shield:
Semi-final: Derry 6-28 Monaghan 0-9
Final: Tyrone 1-12 Derry 1-17
2017 Nicky Rackard Cup:
Round 1: Louth 1-12 Derry 2-17
Round 2A: Derry 8-21 Longford 1-14
Semi-final: Monaghan 1-12 Derry 6-17
Final: Derry 3-23 Armagh 2-15
Division 2A fixtures
January 28: Carlow v Westmeath, Kildare v Meath, London v Kerry.
February 3: London v Meath.
February 4: Kerry v Carlow, Westmeath v Kildare.
February 18: Kildare v Kerry, London v Carlow, Meath v Westmeath.
February 25: Carlow v Kildare, Kerry v Meath, London v Westmeath.
March 4: London v Kildare, Meath v Carlow, Westmeath v Kerry.
Division 2B fixtures
Sun January 28: Derry v Down, Mayo v Donegal, Wicklow v Armagh
Sun February 4: Armagh v Mayo, Donegal v Derry, Down v Wicklow
Sun February 18: Derry v Mayo, Down v Armagh, Wicklow v Donegal
Sun February 25: Donegal v Down, Derry v Armagh, Mayo v Wicklow
Sun March 4: Armagh v Donegal, Down v Mayo, Wicklow v Derry
2018 NATIONAL LEAGUE PANEL
Darragh Cartin (Banagher), Darragh McCloskey (Banagher), Jack Phelan (Banagher), Oisin McCloskey (Banagher), Eoghan Gilmore (Ballinascreen), Paul Cleary (Ballinascreen), Odran Waldron (Cuala), Naoise Waldron (Cuala), Thomas Magee (Eoghan Rua), Ciaran Steele (Kevin Lynch’s), John Mullan (Kevin Lynch’s), Seamus Higgins (Kevin Lynch’s), Ciaran Hendry (Lavey), Conor McCrystal (Lavey), Alan Grant (Na Magha), Aodhan O’Donnell (Na Magha), Tim Rankin (Na Magha), Brendan Quigley (Na Magha), Michael Kirkpartick (Swatragh), Patrick Turner (Swatragh), Niall Smyth (Kevin Lynch’s), Liam Murphy (Lavey), Odhran McKeever (Kevin Lynch’s), Chrissy Henry (Lavey), Eamonn McGill (Lavey), Ciaran Lagan (Coleraine), Ryan Farren (Lavey)
