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Back In The Day - We will get even better warns Derry chairman after Cavan demolition - The Irish News, June 22 1999

DERRY County Board Chairman Jim McKeever, pictured front and centre,claims the Oak Leaf county can be even better after Derry's demolition of Cavan
DERRY County Board Chairman Jim McKeever, pictured front and centre,claims the Oak Leaf county can be even better after Derry's demolition of Cavan DERRY County Board Chairman Jim McKeever, pictured front and centre,claims the Oak Leaf county can be even better after Derry's demolition of Cavan

DERRY County Board Chairman Jim McKeever issued a chilling warning to the Oak Leaf county’s Ulster rivals, stressing that the side which destroyed Cavan could get much better.

“There’s certainly more to come, when they reflect on the number of mistakes which were made which cost us some scores, maybe gave away frees, balls dropped, passes mis-directed.

“You can’t be satisfied until there are no mistakes whatsoever, you never get to that stage but you want to get as close as possible. Every other team will aim for that too and we’ve got to try to get better.”

Yet despite the 15-point hammering handed out to the dreadful Breffni Blues, the Derry legend sounded a note of caution to rule out any wild optimism: “I was very pleased, I think the team began to play towards its potential. They’re a talented team, but there are a few talented teams around, Armagh for example.”

Looking ahead to the July 4 semi-final meeting with the Orchard County, McKeever commented: “I think it’ll be a very good game. I’ve had a lot of respect for Armagh for a lot of years, they’ve had one of the best selection of individual players of any county in Ulster for the last six or seven years.

“I’ve a lot of respect for some of them who I know very well, Jarlath Burns, John Rafferty and so on....It’ll take a very talented team to beat Armagh and if we are not at the very best of our form then Armagh could beat us.”

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Camogie: Anne injury a blow to Dunloy hopes

LAST week turned out to be a bad week in terms of injuries serious enough to damage some teams’ prospects, particularly in the club championships.

Most serious was the broken wrist sustained by Anne McKee from Dunloy which kept her from joining her Ulster colleagues for the Schwarzkopf Gael Linn on Saturday.

It was the second injury blow for Dunloy, the defending Antrim club champions, inside a week as Elaine Dowds cracked a bone in her hand, assisting Antrim in their Ulster Junior semi-final against Derry.

Rossa took advantage to defeat Dunloy in the league and with three games left the Belfast club should lift the title, having dropped only a single point to date.

Dunloy’s county title is definitely on the line. Elaine may make it for the semifinal – Anne will certainly miss out. Does this open up the championship to either Rossa or Loughgiel, who meet in next week’s quarterfinal?

In Down, Mairin McAleenan’s injured ankle left her in only a supporting role to the McCrickard cousins as Liatroim stayed on course for a ninth successive Down title. They meet Ballycran in the final on Sunday week.

Ballycran edged home by a goal against Drumaness – but will miss the services of current minor county captain Catherine McGourty, who leaves for the USA at the weekend.

Down manager Pete McGrath is optimistic Gregory McCartan will feature in the county’s Ulster championship semi-final on July 11
Down manager Pete McGrath is optimistic Gregory McCartan will feature in the county’s Ulster championship semi-final on July 11 Down manager Pete McGrath is optimistic Gregory McCartan will feature in the county’s Ulster championship semi-final on July 11

GAA: McGrath optimistic over McCartan

DOWN boss Pete McGrath is optimistic Gregory McCartan will be able to play some part in the county’s Ulster championship semi-final on July 11.

The midfielder has made progress quicker than expected from a knee ligament injury and McGrath is hoping he will be involved in the match against the winners of this weekend’s first round match between Fermanagh and Tyrone.

“Gregory has trained in the last couple of sessions and he’ll be monitored very closely over the next three weeks,” he said.

“Because he was able to have keyhole surgery there wasn’t as much trauma to the knee as normal so we’re hopeful.”

It is understood McCartan is currently seeking a transfer from his native Ballymartin club to division one side Castlewellan.

Down secretary Brian McAvoy confirmed a transfer was “in the pipeline” but it would have to be brought before the next East Down board meeting (July 5) before making its way to the Down county board’s activities committee.

McCartan is now living in Castlewellan, and there should be no difficulty with his transfer.