Damian Cassidy

Damian Cassidy (born 22 July 1965), is a Gaelic football manager and former player for the Derry county team in the 1980s and 1990s, who was part of the county's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, starting at left half forward.

[7] Adrian McGuckin who coached him at St. Pat's, Maghera said he had a superb left foot and was very comfortable on the ball.

[12] It was 1992 until Cassidy and Derry got back to an Ulster final, however this time they were beat by Donegal.

Despite Bellaghy not reaching the final, Cassidy was the Derry Championship's top-scorer in 1991, with a total haul of 4–06 (18 points).

Bellaghy were beat by three points and unfortunately for Cassidy he missed a vital penalty late in the match.

[16] Cassidy won three MacRory Cup medals in 1982, 1983 and 1984 whilst at St. Patrick's College, Maghera (secondary school).

[21] He managed the Senior and Under-21 teams of St. Teresa's Loughmacrory in 2003[22] and led the club to the Tyrone Under 21 Championship title.

They shocked[29] the "big two" of Tyrone club football – Errigal Ciarán and Carrickmore in the first round and quarter-final respectively.

In 2012 he guided Clonoe to their first All County Senior League title, defeating Coalisland in the final.

In 2013 he once more lead Clonoe O' Rahilly's to senior championship success, beating Carrickmore in the final.

He quickly followed this up with winning the U21 county title and then the Ulster U21 championship with Clonoe, defeating Truagh Gaels of Monaghan.

2015 the O' Rahilly's recaptured the All County Senior League title for the second time in their history under Cassidy's stewardship.

Winning the senior championship at his first attempt, beating St Galls in a pulsating high scoring semi-final and then beating parish neighbours Creggan, where the rivalry is intense, in a low scoring championship final.

In the same season, Cassidy also lead Wolfe Tones, Bellaghy to their first minor championship win since 1994, by beating close rivals Lavey Gac in the Derry minor championship final at Derry GAA Centre of Excellence, Owenbeg.

In 2020 in the year of the Covid virus, he led Erin's Own Cargin to their first historic three in a row, by again defeating Creggan in extra time in a classic high scoring game.