Overview
- Derry open the Ulster Championship at home to Antrim on Saturday, carrying fresh confidence after a bruising year without a win.
- A January loss to Meath extended their drought to 13 games before a narrow victory over Tyrone flipped the mood and led to four wins in five Division Two outings.
- Promotion slipped away with a defeat to Louth despite a 20-point rout of Cork and a closing win over Cavan that steadied belief.
- Manager Ciaran Meenagh has raised accountability by using meeting-room video to highlight unacceptable actions and call out players, with senior leaders taking the heat first.
- Training now targets ‘above game intensity,’ with sessions built around matchday loads of about 10km and 2.5km of high-speed running to keep players robust for a draw that could bring Cavan or Monaghan next.