EMM WAS GOING TO LEAF IT BEHIND

Derry’s dark days made Bradley question future

- KARL O’KANE

THERE were times Emmett Bradley wondered was it all worth it, in a dark decade for Derry at the senior inter-county level.

But the Glen midfield man kept plugging away and the Oak Leafers came good under Rory Gallagher (inset).

Last weekend’s thrilling Ulster semi-final victory over Monaghan came after a quarter-final dismissal of All-Ireland champions Tyrone to set up a decider date with Donegal in 12 days’ time.

Under Gallagher, Derry have moved into Division 2 and came close to securing promotion earlier this year.

But it’s big Championship wins that Derry football has been crying out for.

Up until this year, their last Ulster win came in 2015, and they hadn’t taken a real big scalp since the late noughties.