McGurk Architects Derry SHC: Na Magha v Slaughtneil (tonight, 7.30pm, Na Magha)
NA Magha manager Dee Doherty believes that the Derry hurling championship has stumbled upon the perfect format and that it should be retained beyond 2020.
The pandemic forced a rethink of ideas and with all eight hurling clubs competing, the rejig of how it breaks up into senior, intermediate and junior after the group stage as well as the home-away-neutral fixtures have proven popular.
Doherty’s men face Ulster champions Slaughtneil tonight and while he is not expecting, or truly wanting, to see a full Emmet’s team roll in to Derry city, it will change little in terms of their overall prospects.
This year will see the bottom two in each group compete in junior semi-finals, while the two losing senior semi-finalists will contest the intermediate decider.
It makes a change from Na Magha and Eoghan Rua facing off annually to decide who is junior and who’s intermediate, and Doherty believes the format will help them in the long run.
“When we looked at that format, we knew ourselves a junior semi-final was realistically where we’d end up.
“The minute it was the top two competing for senior and intermediate, we knew ourselves with Slaughtneil and Ballinascreen in the group, that realistically we were going to be in a junior semi-final.
“All we can do is try and win that. We’re more than happy with the format, I’d love to see it staying as it is.
“Every year you go out, you’ll play a senior team or two at some stage, and another intermediate or junior team. It means every year you’re getting a crack at different teams.”
Derry has always traditionally played championship on neutral venues but circumstances forced a change of tact and the idea of home and away games has proven very popular so far.
Tonight’s game was originally intended for a neutral venue but Doherty was full of praise after Slaughtneil approached the county board and asked for the tie to be taken to Na Magha’s ground to help boost hurling in the city.
The home side will be without torn ACL victim Alan Grant, and key defenders Robbie Hegarty (shoulder) and Mark McShane (concussion) are both doubts after going off in the heavy 4-21 to 2-9 loss against Ballinascreen.
That came off a respectable display in “a carnival atmosphere” as they hosted a first ever home championship game against Lavey, where they ran their illustrious rivals to five points.
Slaughtneil boss McShane is likely to freshen his team up considerably. The result will not be in doubt but if Na Magha can minimise the damage, they’ll set themselves up for a tilt at the junior crown from here on.
