Desertmartin manager Sean Brady says Ryan McEldowney has proven his county credentials after the midfielder fired his club to a first ever Derry Intermediate football title at Find Insurance Celtic Park on Sunday.

McEldowney has been one of the players of the 2026 championship following a string of superb displays, a run he capped with a 'Player of the Match' performance and seven points in Sunday's 0-17 to 1-11 final victory over Greenlough.

The young midfielder was part of Derry's All Ireland winning minor squad of 2020, scoring in the Ulster final victory over Monaghan, and Brady believes he can now make the step up to Ciaran Meenagh's senior panel.

"I'd say he will be called up to the county. He is unbelievable," was the Desertmartin manager's frank response when asked what he thought of McEldowney's display in the final.

Desertmartin’s players celebrate their victory over Greenlough in the McFeely Group Derry Club Intermediate Championship final held in Celtic Park, on Sunday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

placeholder image — Desertmartin’s players celebrate their victory over Greenlough in the McFeely Group Derry Club Intermediate Championship final held in Celtic Park, on Sunday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

"look, this is unbelievable. When I came into this job last year I knew there was potential in it. I knew there was a good group of players and if I could bring something - I'd a background with Ballymaguigan in championships - Desertmartin had the quality and, look, we've shown there over the 60 minutes we were the better team. Greenlough is a good side but I think we bossed it from day one.

"We have footballers all over the field. The new rules suit us, put it like that, because we have real footballers."

Brady has done a superb job since taking over The Martin's last season and described Sunday's victory as 'special'.

"Look, as a man from the outside it means the world," he added, "You saw over this past two weeks what this means to the club. The Under 16s won the other night, the ladies are in the Ulster quarter-final...... the buzz around Desertmartin is brilliant. They have waited a long, long time for this."

Desertmartin duo Dylan Ormsby and Ryan McEldowney in action in Sunday's McFeely Group Derry Club Intermediate Championship final. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Those sentiments were echoed by McEldowney who admitted he wasn't aware the club had missed out in five previous Intermediate finals prior to Sunday's historic win.

"To be honest I didn't even realise the club had been there that many times and not won it," explained the Desertmartin No. 9, "Just to get over the line is unbelievable.

"It didn't look like it for a time there, looked like they might pull it back so when I got that last point there and the whistle went, I couldn't believe it.

"We couldn't have asked for a better start, and against the wind. We didn't know what way.... well, we nearly expected them (Greenlough) to be sailing over four or five two pointers but we went in three points up. "I know we conceded the goal but we said we would have taken that (half-time score) at the start of the game. It wasn't too easy with the wind either, I almost thought it was coming against us at stages of the second half but we got over the line."

McEldowney said Brain McCallion's goal late in the opening half had the effect of ensuring Desertmartin stayed grounded despite limiting the championship favourites to only two scores in a first half that finished with the Martins 0-7 to 1-01 ahead.

"We didn't say much about it," he added, "It probably humbled us a bit because if you're going in six points up maybe you aren't as up for it (second half) so it probably humbled us.

"As I said, I didn't even realise that we were there that many times before (without winning it). I thought it was only a couple of times in the early 2000s but just to get over the line, that means everything. You see of the older boys coming up and hugging you, it shows what it means to them. It is unbelievable."