GROUP A
ALL-IRELAND champions Glen were left hanging on for a 0-10 to 0-9 victory at home to Dungiven last night.
Five points from Ethan Doherty was one half of his deal. The other was his vital catch to intercept a Kevin Johnston cross as Dungiven pushed for an equaliser.
It was the last action of a game Dungiven will feel they could well have got something out of after getting great joy off their own kick-outs.
With the Murphy brothers – Conor and Fiontann – in fine form the visitors controlled much of the first half.
Conor Convery and Ethan Doherty tied the game before Stevie O’Hara’s spinner nosed Glen 0-5 to 0-4 ahead at the break.
Emmett Bradley and Doherty gave Glen the three-point lead that ended up winning the game.
A booming Conor Murphy was followed by a free from brother Fiontann to pull Dungiven back to within a point but the Watties got through by a whisker.
Goals from Shane McGuigan and Shea Cassidy helped Slaughtneil to a comprehensive 2-17 to 0-9 win at Bellaghy to guarantee top spot.
A fifth-minute penalty from Derry star McGuigan had the wind-assisted Emmets 1-1 to 0-0 ahead.
Ruairi McElwee and Conleth McShane hit scores for the Tones but Slaughtneil pushed into a 1-7 to 0-4 lead at half-time.
The Emmets controlled the second half, with Cassidy hitting their second goal on the way to victory.
Also on Saturday, A late Francis Kearney point earned Swatragh a 1-10 each draw in Kilrea.
The result knocks the home team out of the championship and sets up Swatragh’s showdown this weekend with Bellaghy for the final quarter-final spot.
Cathaoir Bradley put the home side 0-3 to 0-2 ahead before the game’s first goal.
Larry Kielt’s pass opened the Swatragh defence with a well-worked move and Daithi McLaughlin palmed home at the far post.
A Patrick Kearney goal had Swatragh level before younger brother Sean kicked Swatragh into a 1-4 to 1-3 interval lead.
Anton Tohill and Sean Kearney (2) were among the scorers as Swatragh pushed four points clear.
Frees from James Kielt kept Kirea in touch before Eamon Darragh tied the game at 1-9 each late on.
Kielt’s fifth free put Kilrea ahead before Kearney’s late equaliser.
GROUP B
MAGHERAFELT bounced back from their defeat to Newbridge in their 3-7 to 1-7 win over Ballinascreen.
An early goal from Cormac Murphy put Rossa on their way to a 1-2 to 0-3 interval lead.
Ryan Scullion, from a 45, was on target for ‘Screen who had a let off when Conall Heron rattled a shot off the crossbar in the opening half.
John Boyle hit the net for Ballinascreen early in the second half to level the game but a 38th-minute Ryan Ferris goal had Magherafelt back in control.
With four minutes remaining, minor player Conall Higgins scored a third Magherafelt goal to seal victory.
A sizzling brace of 3-2 within eight second-half minutes did the trick for Lavey in their 3-16 to 2-11 win over Loup earlier in the day.
Goals from Caolan Devlin – who bagged 2-7 – helped Loup to a 2-6 to 0-11 interval lead. They also had Thomas Mallon to thank for saving Niall Toner’s early penalty.
Lavey came with a similar brace to shoot themselves back into the game, with Niall Duggan hitting the net after coming in off the bench after 38 minutes.
Three minutes later the Loup net was bulging again with Declan Hughes notching Lavey’s second goal. Rory McGill continued his impressive season with 0-5 to his name and it was Aidan Toner who scored the third Lavey goal.
Two late Oisin Doherty frees secured Newbridge’s 0-11 to 0-8 win over Steelstown at home on Saturday afternoon.
It leaves the ‘Bridge guaranteed top spot with a game to spare but they were left to dig out the victory in blustery conditions.
Goalkeeper James Gribbin and Ronan Doherty landed scores for a 0-5 to 0-3 Newbridge lead at the break.
With Ben McCarron off on a black card Newbridge held sway in the third quarter.
Back on the pitch, McCarron hit two points, cutting the gap to a point, before Diarmuid Baker’s flick goalwards was blocked by goalkeeper Gribbin.
After Newbridge went ahead with a second Conleth McGrogan point, Ryan Devine replied for Steelstown to make it a one-point game again.
A shemozzle in the latter stages broke up any momentum Steelstown needed. Devine was dismissed on a second booking with Newbridge’s Mark McGrogan shown a straight red card before Doherty hit the two insurance points.
