Hurling - Derry to play Donegal in the Conor McGurk
HOLDERS Derry face Donegal in their opening fixture in this year’s Conor McGurk Tournament. Tom McLean’s men begin the defence of the Cup they won last year on Saturday 2nd January, before facing Down and Sty Mary’s later in the month. Derry triumphed over Armagh last year to win the inaugural Conor McGurk Cup, hosted by Queen's University, Belfast in memory of a hurler who passed away last year. Armagh quickly went on the attack in that game, but it was Derry who found their mark first going a point up within four minutes of the throw in courtesy of Ruairi Convery. It was Armagh who were first to get a goal via Conor Corvan, but Derry didn't waste any time finding their reply with another point and then a goal from Liam Og Hinphey. Going into the break, Derry led 1-09 to 1-06 - and they piled on the pressure on the return to action. There was almost a goal for Dean Flanagan straight from the throw in, but it was Alan Grant who found the side's second in the end. Derry ultimately ran out the 2-16 to 1-15 winners, and would go on to contest the Christy Rinf Cup later in Tom McLean’s first season in charge.
2016 Conor McGurk Groups and fixtures
Group A Group B Queen’s University Derry Antrim Down Armagh Donegal UUJ St Mary’s
Fixture schedule Saturday 2nd January 12pm Queen’s Vs Antrim Saturday 2nd January 1.30pm Donegal Vs Derry
Sunday 3rd January 12pm St Mary’s Vs Down Sunday 3rd January 1.30pm Armagh Vs UUJ
Saturday 9th January 12pm Antrim Vs UUJ Saturday 9th January 1.30pm Derry Vs St Mary’s
Sunday 10th January 12pm Queen’s Vs Armagh Sunday 10th January 1.30pm Down Vs Donegal
Saturday 16th January 12pm Queen’s Vs UUJ Saturday 16th January 1.30pm St Mary’s Vs Donegal
Sunday 17th January 12pm Antrim Vs Armagh Sunday 17th January 1.30pm Derry Vs Down
Saturday 23rd January 7pm Group A winner Vs Group B winner
In the event of equal points, final standings will be decided on the head to head results in the group in the first instance and by scores accumulated overall in the three games should the first criteria not separate teams.