Melaugh to lead Derry U20s in new-look Ulster Hurling Cup

The Derry U20 hurlers get their 2026 Ulster Hurling Cup campaign under way this Friday evening when they welcome Tyrone to Owenbeg in the opening round of the competition.

This season sees a new format introduced to the Ulster Cup, with the competition expanding from three teams to six. The inclusion of Tyrone, Donegal and Wicklow highlights both the continued growth of hurling within the province and the strengthening relationship between the Ulster and Leinster Councils.

The addition of the three new counties marks a shift away from the traditional trio of Antrim, Down and Derry, who have long contested the Ulster Premier Hurling competition. Under the revised structure, each county will play five round-robin games, with fixtures scheduled weekly from January 23 to February 22.

The top two teams will qualify for the Ulster final, with the winner progressing to the Leinster Hurling Championship. The remaining sides will enter either the newly formed Leinster B competition or the All-Ireland B Championship.

There has also been a similar expansion to the tier-two competition, the Ulster Hurling Shield. Six teams will contest the Shield this year, with the top two advancing to the final. Both competitions are played in advance of the Leinster Championship and the All-Ireland B and C championships.

This year’s Ulster Hurling Shield will feature Armagh, Cavan, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Louth and Longford.

Derry continue to be led on the sideline by Kevin Lynch’s clubman Ryan O’Neill. The Dungiven native guided the Oak Leafers to All-Ireland B success in 2023 before going on to lift the Ulster crown and compete in Leinster in 2024.

Last season proved disappointing, however, with Derry finishing third behind Antrim and Down. A heavy opening-round defeat to a strong Saffron side, followed by a thrilling draw with Down, saw the Mourne men progress to the provincial decider on score difference.

READ NEXT: Derry U20 hurling manager Ryan O'Neill looking ahead to Tyrone challenge

On the pitch, Lavey’s Tiernan Melaugh will captain the side this year, with Ballinascreen’s Paul McNicholl and Slaughtneil’s Darragh McNamee named vice-captains. Banagher youngster Ruairí Biggs and Melaugh have both been drafted into Johnny McGarvey’s senior Derry panel.

Melaugh started in last weekend’s Conor McGuirk Cup final victory over Donegal at Celtic Park, while Biggs was included in the matchday squad. Tiernan’s twin brother, Conor Melaugh, along with Ryan McGarvey, is also part of the senior setup, although both are currently returning from injury.

There are nine members of Kevin Lynch’s Minor Championship-winning panel included in the U20 camp, alongside three players from St Patrick’s Maghera’s Mageean Cup-winning squad. Kevin Lynch’s captain Kevin Barry Mullan continues his recovery from injury, while Emmett Óg McKeever, Ryan McGilligan and Cormac Óg McCloskey have all joined the panel following successful club campaigns.

Cailean Gallagher, PJ Glover and Owen O’Neill will also provide a welcome boost ahead of the Tyrone clash, having recently featured in a superb 4-13 to 1-12 victory over defending champions Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle. Almost two-thirds of this year’s U20 panel will remain eligible again next season.

However, Derry have also suffered a number of losses to Gaelic football. Several of the county’s leading young hurlers have opted to commit to the U20 football panel, most notably Cathal Ó Mianáin.

The Slaughtneil midfielder, brother of senior inter-county hurler Ruairí, starred during his club’s run to the All-Ireland semi-final.

Following Friday’s opener, Derry travel to Donegal in round two before hosting Antrim at Owenbeg in round three.

The Oak Leafers then face a trip to Darver in County Louth, where Wicklow will provide the opposition in round four. The round-robin phase will be concluded with a visit to the Ards peninsula to face old rivals Down.