Johnny McGarvey brands new Derry Championship format 'a hindrance'

Derry inter-county and Lavey manager Johnny McGarvey has criticised the new format of the Leadon Timber Frames Derry Hurling Championship, claiming the structural change came with little input or communication from the county’s clubs and has already caused considerable controversy within hurling circles on Foyleside.

The championship has moved away from the round-robin format used in previous years to a near-knockout structure, similar to that of the O’Neill’s Derry Senior Football Championship. While the cutthroat nature of the football championship can make for a compelling spectacle, McGarvey believes the same approach does not translate to hurling, a code that remains in need of huge help across Ulster.

Within six days of the championship beginning, Eoghan Rua of Coleraine and Na Magha, based in the city, had seen their campaigns come to an end. The pair are among the most vulnerable of Derry’s eight senior hurling clubs, and for county manager McGarvey, their early exits highlight the shortcomings of a structure which he believes runs contrary to the considerable work being undertaken to develop the game in the county.

Meanwhile, four clubs now face into the intermediate/junior final playoff, with McGarvey’s Lavey among them. They take on reigning intermediate champions Swatragh at Owenbeg on Sunday afternoon, with the loser progressing to the junior decider.

“Coleraine and Na Magha, two teams who need more games, are out of the championship in the space of a week. They played the first round, and six days later they’re both out. They have brilliant hurlers, and they need more games, and they’re both gone.”

“Now you have the playoffs, and the team that loses that day is going to a junior final, and that just doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t think that you should be able to get to a final at any level after being beaten. Don’t get me wrong, it could be Lavey, and if it is us, we’ll go and try to win the final, but to get there via being beaten doesn’t sit well with me.”

“I don’t know where it came out of. I know the hurling clubs weren’t pushing for it. I don’t know who it’s supposed to benefit, if anyone. One thing I can say for sure is that this structure isn’t of any benefit to anyone involved in Derry hurling.”

“It is what it is; now you just have to play it. At the top level, nothing really changed. It’s at the other end; something desperately needs to be done. I don’t think anyone had any issues with the groups, and no one seems to know where this has come out of. It definitely hinders the overall health of the game in the county.”

Lavey now face Swatragh, while in the other playoff, Banagher and Ballinascreen will renew acquaintances after their opening-round encounter, which St Mary’s narrowly won 1-16 to 1-13 with both games taking place in Owenbeg on Sunday afternoon.

For Erin's Own, however, the current championship campaign represents another opportunity to demonstrate the fruits of years of work to re-establish themselves as a force in Derry hurling. A promising generation of players is beginning to make its mark at senior level, with the likes of Rian Collins, Tiarnan Melaugh and Conor Melaugh all playing influential roles during a memorable summer for the Oakleaf County.

Derry’s historic success across various grades included a first-ever Christy Ring Cup triumph, alongside Richie McElligott and Paddy Buggy Cup success. With Slaughtneil still a considerable distance ahead of the chasing pack and Kevin Lynch’s remaining among the perennial challengers, the emergence of another genuine force in Derry hurling would be hugely significant.

McGarvey is hopeful that Lavey’s developing crop, who claimed a third Derry junior crown last year, can continue their progression and push towards an intermediate final after running Kevin Lynch's close in the opening round.

“I would be fairly honest and say that Swatragh are probably the favourites of the four that are there. They’ve pushed as close as anyone to get to the county final. It’ll be fairly tough and fairly even. I just hope that our boys can get over the line, but we’ll wait and see.”

“It’s very important for us to get back to where we feel we belong. We have a lot of pride in ourselves and our hurling. But look, we’ve been in the doldrums for a long time. We have struggled; the game has struggled with us. We haven’t been in a county final since 2011.

“A lot of work has gone into this group of talent. We’re working hard. We’d love to be moving it quicker, but for the overall good of the game it would be brilliant for the championship to be more competitive at the top level.”

“In fairness, a number of clubs are coming with a brilliant crop of young hurlers. It’s a case that everyone needs to raise their levels, because Slaughtneil won’t be dropping theirs, so you’ve got to raise your own to get up and compete with them.”