MASK OF SORROW

No disguising Derry's wretched 25 but Heron is hopeful good times will return

- BY PADDY TIERNEY

IT doesn’t seem all that long ago that Derry fans were heading to Clones and Croke Park with Benny Heron masks.

They were heady days for the Oak Leafers when they won back-to-back Ulster titles and were edged out by Kerry in the 2023 All-Ireland semifinal.

Heron (inset) called time on his career in November of that year.

Now, a little over two years later, he is back as part of Ciaran Meenagh's management team.

He hopes to help revive the fortunes of the county after a winless 2025, but will we see a return of those masks on the terraces?

“Treally hope not! No, that was good craic’ said Heron.