Superb Slaughtneil defeat Magherafelt to regain Derry Championship title

Slaughtneil 0-11, Magherafelt 1-04

In the most bizarre of football seasons, it was the most inevitable of results as Slaughtneil deservedly wrestled the John McLaughlin Cup back from reigning champions, Magherafelt, to claim the county title for the first time 2017.

It was a game that won't be remembered long but this Slaughtneil team will never be forgotten.

Paul Bradley's team served notice early in this campaign with some breathtaking displays and no team has been able to reach their level as the Emmet's eased to a fifth win in seven years. Magherafelt's cautious approach faltered early on when they fell behind but they did ask questions in a vastly improved second half display.

Indeed, an uncharacteristic late lapse by Cormac O'Doherty in possession almost let Adrian Cush's team in for an injury time goal that would have forced extra-time, Slaughtneil indebted to some superb goalkeeping from Antoin McMullan, but it would scarcely have been a deserved reprieve.

Slaughtneil had controlled proceedings from the first whistle with a first half that resembled a training session at times, Magherafelt pulling 15 behind the ball and Slaughtneil, who were leading, content to hold possession.

That changed after the break but the dye had been cast and only Jared Monaghan's excellent 40th minute goal kept Magherafelt in touch in a game that was always getting away from them. With scoring chances always going at a premium, Slaughtneil's greater arsenal of attacking talent made the most of what opportunities came their way and they were worthy champions.

The game didn't see its first score the sixth minute Christopher 'Sammy' Bradley scoring a free following a foul on Brian Cassidy which came after the Emmet's had retained possession for almost four minutes.

Magherafelt equalised through Conor McCluskey but when Fergal Duffin and Monaghan between them lost possession just inside the Slaughtneil half, off went Chrissy McKaigue to score a lovely point at the other end.

McKaigue was a real driving force throughout for the Emmet's, calm in possession when he had to be, and cajoling his team-mates when they needed it. His second point of the afternoon followed on 11 minutes with 0-3 to 0-1 already feeling a considerable advantage in a very tight game.

Guisseppe Lupari's strong out of defence set up Conor Kearns for a great score but Magherafelt attacks were the exceptional rather than the rule in the opening half and when the unlikely figure of Conor McAllister called a mark wide out on the right to point an audacious effort, the 0-4 to 0-2 half-time lead was little more than Slaughtneil deserved.

Slaughtneil lost McAllister to injury for the second half, Peadar Kearney coming in but Slaughtneil never broke stride. First Shane McGuigan took advantage after a Magherafelt kick was spilled before Francis McEldowney became another unlikely scorer on a day when the defenders were enjoying themselves at both ends of the pitch.

Brendan Rogers' fisted point after a trademark break from defence continued that trend and at 0-7 to 0-2, Magherafelt were scraping for inspiration when it arrived courtesy of a lightning quick break that took the Rossas the length of the field and ended with Cormac Murphy teeing up Monaghan for a superb finish to the Slaughtneil net.

Christopher Bradley called a mark to calm Slaughtneil jitters if there were any before Shane Heavron took advantage of only the second scorable free conceded by the Emmet's to leave it 0-8 to 1-3 at the second half water break.

Another 'Sammy' Bradley free was the cue for Magherafelt to shift Monaghan to the edge of the square but he was followed in by Patsy Bradley who was in the sort of high fielding form that could have plucked a hawk from the sky.

Shane McGuigan's first free of the day left it 0-10 to 1-03 and Slaughtneil were managing the game comfortably, possibly too comfortably, as the slip from O'Doherty almost let Magherafelt in for a lifeline they looked unlikely to fashion themselves. Luckily for him, McMullan was on his toes, blocking first from Emmet McGuckin and then Antonne McElhone for a '45'.

The ensuing kick, dropped into the edge of the square, provided another high flying Patsy Bradley highlight for supporters before Slaughtneil substitute Ronan Bradley's fisted point on the break took them beyond one score and into the comfort zone.

The whistle confirmed a sixth ever senior champions win but on the evidence of this season, it won't be the last for a remarkable group of gaels.

Slaughtneil: Antoin McMullan; Brendan Rogers (0-1); Christopher McKaigue (0-2); Keelan Feeney, Paul McNeill, Conor McAllister (0-1 mark), Frank McEldowney (0-1); Patsy Bradley, Padraig Cassidy; Sean Cassidy, Cormac O’Doherty, Meehaul McGrath; Christopher Bradley (0-3, 2f, 1m); Shane McGuigan (0-2, 0-1 free), Brian Cassidy. (Subs) Peadar Kearney for C McAllister (HT), Sé McGuigan for B Cassidy, 49mins; Ronan Bradley (0-1) for S Cassidy, 59mins; Paudie McGuigan for C O’Doherty, 62mins.

Magherafelt: Odhran Lynch; Darren O’Neill, Guisseppe Lupari; Simon McErlain; Conor Kearns (0-2), Ryan Ferris, Conor McCluskey (0-1), Fergal Duffin, Michael McEvoy; Jared Monaghan (1-0), Daniel Heavron; Patrick McLarnon, Shane Heavron (0-1 free), John Young; Emmett McGuckin.

(Subs) Niall Higgins for J Young (40), Cormac Murphy for P McLarnon, 40mins; Peter Quinn for D O’Neill, 49mins; Declan Martin for G Lupari, 53mins; Anton McElhone for R Ferris, 59mins.

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy)