HAT-TRICK chasing Slaughtneil avoided the same fate as last year’s beaten finalists Loup by easing into the second round of the Derry SFC yesterday with a 2-14 to 1-11 victory over Swatragh.
Banagher had ignited the weekend action with a surprise win over Loup on Friday evening and they were joined in the second round draw by Slaughtneil, Ballinascreen, Glen, Kilrea, Greenlough, Ballinderry and Coleraine.
Slaughtneil’s win was a low-scoring affair in the first-half, with the sides level on four occasions. Slaughtneil finished the half strongly, with Christopher Bradley (0-2) and Shane McGuigan, from a free, putting them 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
In the third-quarter, points from Francis Bradley, Brian Diamond and Conor McAtamney put Swatragh one point up, but Shay McGuigan and Christopher Bradley then edged Slaughtneil 0-10 to 0-8 in front.
In the 55th minute, Conor McAtamney netted to put Swatragh in front, 1-8 to 0-10.
Niall McAtamney also found the net in the 55th minute, but Slaughtneil finished strongly to win by six points, Christopher Bradley scoring a late goal to finish top scorer with 1-4.
Ballinderry progressed with a 3-20 to 2-8 win over Claudy but until seven minutes from half-time, the game was very much in the balance at four points apiece, Marty Donaghy and Aaron Kerrigan each scoring 0-2 for Claudy.
But it was Conor Gilligan who stole the show for Ballinderry, his 23rd minute goal putting the Shamrocks in control. He finished the half with 1-4. Ryan Bell (0-2) and Conor Nevin completed the first half scoring for the Shamrocks.
Aaron Kerrigan missed a sitter seconds after the restart, Conleith Gilligan doing likewise after five minutes, but he made amends when he set up Ryan Bell for a score two minutes later.
Ballinderry controlled the final-quarter, Enda Muldoon and Aaron Kerrigan with goals proving the highlights.
Niall Loughlin scored a goal in the third minute to set Greenlough on their way to a 2-14 to 1-15 win over Glenullin. Matthew Bradley scored a second goal in the 20th minute to make it 2-6 to 0-4.
Glenullin staged a comeback in the second half and three points from Niall McNicholl and a 54th minute penalty conversion from Eoin Bradley put them right back into the game. Paddy Bradley and Eoin Bradley also scored late points, but it was to no avail as Greenlough held on.
Glenullin had red cards in the closing stages for Eunan O’Kane and Gerard O’Kane, while Greenlough’s Brian McCallion was black-carded.
Ballinascreen enjoyed an eventful 2-15 to 2-8 victory over Bellaghy on Saturday.
Ballinascreen’s Benny Heron and Bellaghy‘s Ruairi McElwee converted two penalties each, while Bellaghy’s Frankie Donnelly (20mins) and Dermot O’Neill (50mins) and Ballinascreen’s Mickey McBride (48mins) were dismissed on straight red cards, and Bellaghy ’keeper Brian Scullion (48mins) and Ballinascreen defender Eoghan Gilmore (52mins) were black carded.
McElwee’s first penalty gave Bellaghy an early advantage but Ballinascreen soon found their rhythm and were level at 0-6 to 1-3, with Benny Heron and Shane Mulgrew each scoring two points.
Ballinascreen then pulled away to lead 0-10 to 1-3 at the break, Heron and Mulgrew contributing 0-7 between them.
Ten minutes from half-time Heron converted a penalty for a 1-13 to 1-5 lead.
Five minutes from time Ruairi McElwee gave Bellaghy a glimmer of hope with a penalty goal but Heron snuffed out that hope with his second penalty goal three minutes later.
Glen progressed past Lavey on a 4-11 to 0-13 scoreline.
Two terrific goals from Emmett Bradley and a Conor Convery volley put Glen in control at 2-6 to 0-5 but Lavey fought back to close the gap to three points at half-time.
Eight minutes into the second half the result was virtually sealed when Bradley palmed the ball to the net from a Paul Gunning cross after a strong run by John McCamley.
Lavey continued to stay in touch as O’Boyle brought his tally to 0-8 from frees but a point from Stevie O’Hara in the last minute of normal time was followed by an added time major from Paul Gunning to seal a commanding Glen victory.
Kilrea finished the stronger for a 1-12 to 1-10 victory over Dungiven.
Five minutes from time the sides were locked at 0-11 to 1-8 when Kilrea’s Joe Morgan delivered the ball invitingly into the goalmouth and Dungiven ’keeper Kevin Farren only managed to punch it back into the path of the unmarked Niall Johnston who volleyed the ball powerfully to the back of the net for the decisive score of the game.
Kevin Johnston and substitute Ryan McElhinney did set up a nerve-jangling finale but James Kielt scored a 62nd minute point to ensure Kilrea’s path to the quarter finals.
Eoghan, Rua Coleraine enjoyed a seven-point (2-11 to 0-10) victory over Magherafelt in the final game of the weekend.
Emmet McGuckin put Magherafelt in front in the opening minute, but Coleraine dominated the rest of the first-half to lead 2-6 to 0-6 at the break.
Shane Heavron kept the Rossa’s in touch with four pointed frees, but goals in the eighth minute from Colm McGoldrick and from a late penalty when Magherafelt ’keeper Conor McKernan was penalised and black-carded put Coleraine in control. Colm McGoldrick finished the half with 2-3.
M&L Contracts Senior Football Championship round one
Loup 1-15 Banagher 1-17
Ballinascreen 2-15 Bellaghy 2-8
Kilrea 1-12 Dungiven 1-10
Lavey 0-13 Glen 4-11
St Oliver Plunkett, Greenlough 2-14 Glenullin 1-15;
Ballinderry 3-20 John Mitchel’s GAC, Claudy 2-8;
Swatragh 1-11 Slaughtneil 2-14
Coleraine 2-11 O’Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt 0-10
Quarter-final draw
Greenlough v Banagher; Ballinascreen v Coleraine; Glen v Kilrea; Slaughtneil v Ballinderry
