IN 2002, 16-year-old Mark Lynch anchored the defence as Derry swept Meath aside to win the All-Ireland title.
Two decades on, Lynch has encouraged Derry’s class of 2022 to “really grasp their opportunity” when they meet Munster champions Cork in tomorrow’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
Ulster champions Tyrone go head-to-head with Munster runners-up Kerry in the opening game of tomorrow’s double bill in Portlaoise (4pm). Derry take on the Rebels (3-11 to 0-9 winners in the Munster final) at 6pm and Lynch is confident that Martin Boyle’s Oak Leaf fledglings will bounce back from their four-point loss in the provincial decider a fortnight ago.
“I think Derry need to really grasp this opportunity and I think that will happen with this group, they’re a strong group,” he said.
“The minor final against Tyrone was a hell of a game and there are a lot of talented footballers in the Derry team with a good management. I think they’ll use the hurt of losing that game in the right way, they’ll know they’re not far away and I think they’ll blossom this weekend and really push to win that All-Ireland again.”
Lynch had played at half-forward throughout Derry’s Ulster Championship in 2002 but when an ankle injury ruled out Ciaran McCallion he was drafted in to replace the Greenlough clubman in the number six jersey for the All-Ireland semi-final.
“Ciaran had been having an awesome year but he wrecked his ankle against Tipperary in the quarter-final,” he recalls.
“I was asked to take a go at number six and I was lucky enough to keep my place and it went on from there. It was all about the players I had around me – Matthew Bradley and Ruairi Convery in midfield, Gerard O’Kane behind me in a full-back line that was awesome.
“Joe Keenan and Michael McGoldrick in the corners and in the final I had Ciaran McCallion and Phil O’Hea either side of me so it was a great unit to be working in. I was only 16 but those boys made you feel that you were standing tall.
“There’s no way we planned to be All-Ireland champions but we had a very talented group and our schools were very strong at the time. There was a really strong backbone of a team there and we got through a tough Ulster campaign and took off from there, we got out of Ulster and we seemed to blossom and become All-Ireland champions and created memories we’ll hold forever.”
Derry were All-Ireland minor champions in 2020 and have been in six of the last eight Ulster deciders, winning in 2015, 2017 and 2020. That steady stream of talent is paying dividends at senior level and the county ended a 24-year wait for an Anglo-Celt Cup last month.
“It’s really exciting for the county,” said Lynch.
“Nevermind that they’re so talented, they’re so committed as well and the lads really want to play for Derry and get Derry back on the map and they’re doing a great job of that.
“There’s a lot of work going on in the background with the county board and obviously the coaches of the development squads. There’s a lot of good people doing a lot of really good work nurturing those youngsters from U13 right up and we’re getting a really talented group of players coming through.
“There’s a lot of people who deserve credit who do a lot of work in the background.”
