GAA: Magherafelt deny hat-trick chasing Newbridge to win Derry senior football title

Magherafelt 3-17, Newbridge 0-20

Magherafelt are Derry senior football champions for the first time since 2019 after three second half goals denied hat-trick chasing Newbridge in a thrilling final in Find Insurance Celtic Park on Sunday.

Conall Higgins was the Rossas inspiration, hitting 0-9 in a superb individual first half display as Magherafelt registered 1-12 without reply either side of half-time to go 12 points clear early in the second half. And it was a lead they needed as reigning champions Newbridge fought back to within two points late on but those second half goals from Johnny McErlain, Aidan McCluskey and Cormac Murphy eventually proved decisive as The Rossas put the seal on a seventh title

It was a game that had a bit of everything as momentum swung one way, then the other. Newbridge were in control early on but lost their way for 15 minutes either side of the break as Higgins inspired Magherafelt with three wonderful two point efforts.

Indeed Magherafelt looked to have the title sewn up when they McErlain’s goal helped them to that 12 point lead only five minutes after half-time but Newbridge showed the mettle that brought them back to back titles. The O'Leary's will look on it as one that got away but Magherafelt took their chances when it mattered, those late goals from McCluskey and Murphy finally ending a titanic struggle in the Rossas favour.

And while it was a special first half display from Higgins, there were plenty of other stand-out performances in red like captain Conor McCluskey and his young brother, Aidan as well as Eoin McEvoy at midfield.

For Newbridge Oisin Doherty was superb but those crucial minutes either side of the break left the O'Leary's with too much ground to make up.

It was treble chasing Newbridge who started started the better in an opening half in which the sides were level four times. However nine without reply in the final eight minutes of the half flipped the script on a game the reigning champions looked to be in control of.

Central to that was Higgins. The Rossas corner-forward was sublime, hitting three superb two pointers on his way to a personal tally of 0-9 in the opening 31 minutes which ended with Magherafelt taking a 0-13 to 0-7 lead into the break. Enda Muldoon's men did have the breeze but for long periods it was Newbridge who controlled the exchanges, building a 0-7 to 0-4 lead by the 21st minute.

Higgins' set the tone for his own excellent display with a point inside 60 seconds, that after he had put Aidan McCloskey away to send a gilt edged goal opportunity across goal and wide of the far post.

Higgins' opener was cancelled out by Oisin Doherty, another to excel before the short whistle. The Newbridge free-taker reached the break with 0-5 of his team's tally, only one of which came from a placed ball.

Doherty's equaliser was a soccer style shot off the ground and minutes later he had the O'Learys in front, only for Shan Haveron to level again. Doherty and Conor McAteer then edged Newbridge ahead at 0-4 to 0-2 but Higgins first two pointer of the half on 17 minutes levelled once more.

Successive scores from Oisin (2) and Conor Doherty handed Newbridge a modicum of control but Oisin's first free of the half on 21 minutes would be his team's final scores of the opening half.

Inspired by Higgins, Magherafelt turned the screw as a single and his second two pointer levelled before the Rosas pushed on with further points from McEvoy, another Higgins two pointer and a '45' as well as scores from Cahir Spiers and Aidan McCluskey for 0-13 to 0-7 at the break.

However, Newbridge were less than happy when Mark Doherty looked to be caught by Odhran Lynch prior to McCluskey's final score of the half. No penalty was the decision at a pivotal time and Magherafelt took full advantage

The Rosas emerged from the changing room to turn that 0-9 without reply into 1-12 without reply and it was the winning of the game.

A Shane Heavron free extended the lead and when Aidan McCloskey's blocked shot dropped perfectly for Johnny McErlain to nip in and punch into the net, Magherafelt were 1-14 to 0-7 ahead.

A Newbridge breach highlighted the pressure on the champions and allowed Magherafelt to extend the lead further with McEvoy and Shane Heavron taking the lead to 1-16 to 0-07 by the 35th minute.

A lovely Conor McAteer two pointer, Newbridge's first score for 17minutes, highlighted the champions were not about to go down without a fight and when Conor Doherty scored an equally sublime two pointer for 0-15 to 1-16 on 52 minutes the fightback looked a possibility.

Indeed Newbridge had chances to be closer but with five minutes remaining Aidan McCluskey wriggled himself through at the near post to crash a shot in off the underside of the crossbar and Magherafelt had one hand on the John McLaughlin Cup.

Within seconds Oisin Doherty was hitting a two point free to ensure Magherafelt nerves remained frayed. Indeed when the All Ireland minor winner scored another two pointer for 0-20 to 2-16 in added time, Newbridge were within one score but Magherafelt would not be denied.

Cormac Murphy slammed home their third goal after another McEvoy point to ensure the John McLaughlin trophy will spend the next 12 months in Magherafelt.

Magherafelt scorers: C Higgins 0-9 (3 tp, 1 45), S Heavron 0-3 (2f), E McEvoy 0-3, C Spiers 0-1, A McCluskey 1-1, J McErlain 1-0, C Murphy 1-0.

Newbridge scorers: O Doherty 0-12 (4f, 1 tpf), C McAteer 0-3 (1 tp), C Doherty 0-3 (1 TP), S McAteer 0-1, C McGrogan 0-1, Magherafelt: O Lynch, J McErlain, J Murray, C Heron, C McCluskey, M McEvoy, G Lupari, D Higgins, E McEvoy, A McCluskey, C Spiers, P McLarnon, C Higgins, C Murphy, S Heavron. (Subs): R Small on for C Spiers (45), C Quinn on for M McEvoy (58) C Croizer on for J McErlain (60) Newbridge: J Henry, S McAteer, S McGrogan, M Doherty, C McGrogan, P McGrogan, C McGrogan, C Doherty, C McGrogan, S Young, E Young, C McAteer, P McMullan, O McGlone, O Doherty (Subs): C McBride on for P McMullan (53), A McGlone on for O McGlone (54), Referee: Cianan Canney