Na Magha building for the future in Derry

Saturday August 2

CúChulainn Hurling League Division Two Final

Na Magha v Coolera-Strandhill, Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, 4pm

By Cian O'Connell

"The CúChulainn league has given us extra opportunities to give people games," explains Na Magha stalwart Ciaran McCarron.

On and off the field of play, McCarron has served the Na Magha cause in Derry city. The 2025 CúChulainn League, though, has served a real purpose. "We'd been hobbling along in the Derry senior league for a long time and in the Antrim league, too, we'd barely get one squad out over the last few years, but in the last year to year and a half, we've a lot more young guys coming through," he adds.

"We hadn't really an opportunity to get everybody games. So, we tried to go with two different squads this year, and we've been playing a reserve squad or what we call a development squad in the CúChulainn League. It has proven to be amazing for us."

The fact that Na Magha contest Saturday's Division Two decider against Coolera-Strandhill is bonus territory. Affording players matches is vital. "We'd have lost players if this opportunity didn't exist," McCarron remarks.

"The way we've approached this league, we've guys just coming out of minor, five or six guys that were playing social hurling, who were reasonably fit, and they've decided to move on up a level. We've some at the end of their days and others who've the potential to be your first team, but returning from injuries.

"It has been a great vehicle for us to get people hurling. Between our first team playing in Derry and our second team playing in the CúChulainn league, we've probably got 35 to 40 players exposed to senior hurling, which is a first for us."

The emphasis is on fun and enjoyment, but development matters too. "About 20 to 22 of the players would be at a standard where they could cope in the Derry senior league," McCarron says.

"You're left then with a surplus of 15 or 20, who just aren't ready for senior hurling. We never had anywhere for them before.

"This is brilliant for us. A few guys have shone and come through into the first squad. There is a great buzz around the club because of it, too.

"We're a small enough club, getting loads of people exposed to this level of hurling has created a bit of excitement. The first team is starting to do well, things are starting to go well for us, but we've a lot of work to do. This has been a great stepping stone for some people."

The progress in the competition bodes well. Victories over Slaughtneil reserves, Omagh, and St Finbarrs have been registered. "St Finbarrs are an up and coming team in Derry," McCarron says.

"They're a massive success story. St Finbarrs and Omagh are great success stories for hurling in the north west. St Finbarrs play in the senior reserve league in Derry.

"We don't run up against them a lot at the moment, but they're making a lot of hay. If we can get St Finbarrs sustained, it would bring Derry hurling clubs to nine."

Ultimately, McCarron wants Derry hurling to prosper at every level. "We'd be very supportive of that," he responds.

"For a long time we were struggling to get established. We've our own ground now, our own pitch, our own gym all in the last 10 years. We didn't have that before. We'd look towards further development of other clubs being the bigger picture.

"You've some football clubs picking up hurling at underage, we'd love to see them come through. It is a long journey for them, but it would be better for Derry hurling. We'd love to see Derry get out of the Christy Ring and up to the Joe McDonagh.

"That is what we want, to get to the Joe McDonagh, and sustain that level of hurling within the county. We need more clubs, more people going to the games, and more people playing the games. We're interested in developing."

This weekend's match in Ballyshannon is the next chapter in the Na Magha story. "We've three guys on the Christy Ring team for Derry, but they won't be playing on Saturday. They'd be our well known players, Alan Grant, Declan Foley, and Padhraig Neilis," McCarron says.

"Saturday is a great opportunity for us, I know it is cliché, it is a final, and the result, if we came out on the right side, it would be great.

"Still, we're having a good year, one way or the other. We've exposed 20 plus people to hurling that didn't get it previously."