WILL tomorrow deliver rain or blue skies? Like the weather in this part of the world, you might hope for sunshine but common sense says you should always bring your brolly (no pun intended).

Nominations for the position of Derry senior football manager closed last night and six men are in contention to replace Paddy Crozier, who ended his tenure last month.

The Derry County Board has given its backing to senior football boss Paddy Crozier, despite continuing speculation over his future

Derry County Board moved yesterday to correct “misleading comments” made after Derry’s All-Ireland senior football championship exit.

THE VAST expanse of empty terracing in Clones spoke volumes about the lack of belief both sets of supporters had in these sides on Saturday but Seamus McEnaney never shared that pessimism.

‘Sunday Game’ pundits who call on refs to ‘let the game flow’ even when a foul has been committed… the Cork football and hurling panels and their recent performances… Managers of losing teams…the Munster Council for not allowing reduced student admission prices to stands at big matches … too many lopsided games in both the hurling and football championships … There’s no shortage of targets for the fans’ anger this week.

TO BORROW the words of a famous fictional Roman general: ‘Are you not entertained?’ Ulster has shone like a beacon in what has been a mediocre championship but never so bright as on Saturday evening.

Fermanagh 1-11 Derry 1-9

OUR friends in the north have long since been making the claim but now it is official – Ulster is the most competitive of the four provinces in the football championship, and has been for the last six years.

CLARE senior hurling manager Mike McNamara has made one change to the team which defeated Waterford in the opening round for Sunday’s Munster Championship semi-final against Limerick at Semple Stadium.

Derry boss Paddy Crozier is considering launching an appeal against a four-week ban handed down to Fergal Doherty yesterday.

YOU gotta love Paddy Crozier. Derry win the league and yet he says in yesterday’s programme notes that “the 2008 season starts here”. They go on and beat Donegal and his summation is “must do better”.

Donegal 1-12 Derry 1-14

Sean Marty Lockhart comes in as one of four changes to the Derry team for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final tie with Donegal (Ballybofey, throw-in 4pm).

League champions Derry have received a welcome boost ahead of the start of their Ulster championship campaign.

Ten years on from their last Ulster SFC title win, Derry are keen to rid themselves of the tag of 'Ulster's whipping boys' following a strong league campaign which ultimately delivered an unexpected Division 1 crown.

TEN months ago, a sizeable portion of Derry’s supporters were calling for Paddy Crozier’s head but yesterday he captured the entire county’s heart by securing their sixth league title and first since 2000.

They may have claimed the scalp of All-Ireland champions Kerry in today's NFL Division 1 final, but Derry stalwart Seán Marty Lockhart's sights are set firmly on the challenge ahead as the Oak Leafers must now prepare for their Ulster Championship opener away to Donegal on June 1.

Derry manager Paddy Crozier has been forced to make one change to his side for Sunday's NFL Division 1 decider against Kerry at Parnell Park.

PAT O’SHEA will decide tonight what roles the experienced trio of Colm Cooper, Paul Galvin and Declan O’Sullivan play in Sunday’s NFL Division One final against Derry at Parnell Park.

ALLIANZ, the long-term sponsor of the National Leagues, is being shortchanged by the choice of venues for this weekend’s showpiece NFL finals, according to Derry manager Paddy Crozier.

Derry boss Paddy Crozier knows that kingpins Kerry will pose a formidable challenge for his side as they hope to secure the county's sixth NFL Division 1 title in Sunday's decider at Parnell Park.

THE Kerry County Board has ruled out a toss to decide the venue for their Allianz NFL final with Derry the weekend after next, almost certainly on Saturday, to avoid a clash with Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final the following day.

Derry manager Paddy Crozier has rotated his side for tomorrow night's NFL Division 1 encounter with Laois in Portlaoise, throw-in at 7pm.

DOWN 1-12 DERRY 1-6, Casement Park

Derry 2-12 Fermanagh 1-10

There will be a new name etched on the Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup this season after champions Tyrone went down by 0-12 to 0-11 to Donegal in their final group game today.

Derry manager Paddy Crozier has named an unchanged team for tomorrow's eagerly awaited All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Dublin at Croke Park, throw-in 3pm.

Derry will field an unchanged team for tomorrow night's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier against Laois (Breffni Park, throw-in 7pm).

Derry have enhanced their giant-killing reputation with a battling win over Mayo at Celtic Park.

Magherafelt net minder Barry Gillis has been drafted into the Derry team for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier against Mayo (Celtic Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Patsy Bradley and Paddy Bradley have been recalled to the Derry team for Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final showdown with Monaghan (Casement Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Antrim 0-10 Derry 1-13

Ace attacker Paddy Bradley will warm the bench for Derry's re-fixed Ulster SFC quarter-final tie against Antrim this Sunday (Casement Park, throw-in 3.30pm)

Paddy Bradley has not been included in the Derry side for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Antrim (Casement Park, throw-in 4.15pm).

Derry manager Paddy Crozier will be able to call upon the services of Paddy Bradley for Sunday's Ulster SFC clash with Antrim, after the star forward had his suspension put on hold.

FIRST Omagh and now Crossmaglen. For eight years, Armagh and Tyrone have held Ulster football in their vice-like grips but the twin towers of the northern game both came a cropper on home soil against their provincial brethren this weekend.

Derry football manager Paddy Crozier has admitted that axed forward Eoin Bradley could return for the Oak Leafers "at a future date" this season.

Derry were left ruing some poor shooting as Kildare notched the final four points at Newbridge to take the Division 1B spoils by 0-10 to 0-07.

Derry 1-19 Westmeath 3-10