He made his Derry Senior debut in the 1997 season and reached the Ulster final, where they were beat by Cavan. In 1998, playing in midfield he won the Ulster Senior Championship with Derry. It was his sixth Ulster final in four years—one Minor, three Under-21 and two Senior. Derry lost out to Galway in that year's All-Ireland Championship semi-final. In 2000 he won the National League with Derry, defeating Meath in the final. Derry also reached that year's Ulster final, but lost out to Armagh. He was nominated in 2000 for an All Star, but narrowly missed out. He was however an All Star replacement for the All Star trip to Dubai in January 2001.