Champions Steelstown look to bounce back at Celtic Park tonight

The second round of the Errigal Group Senior Football Championship takes place tonight, with all eyes on Celtic Park as reigning champions Steelstown look to bounce back from their shock loss to Glen last week.

There are games at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level across the county with plenty at stake at all levels, even at this early stage.

ERRIGAL GROUP SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Steelstown v Ballymaguigan (Celtic Park, 8pm

Steelstown Ladies head into tonight’s game at home to Ballymaguigan knowing that victory is essential if they are to keep their dreams of four successive titles alive.

Thomas Cusack’s team have been the one to beat for several years now and they went into last Monday night’s opener at Glen determined to not only start with a win towards that historic target, but also with the debacle of the Ulster Championship last year still very much in their minds. But there will be no shot at redemption in Ulster if they fail to win the Derry Championship first, and they started disastrously last week, not just losing at Glen, but losing emphatically.

They could have no complaints, however, as Glen outplayed them and first half goals from Leanne McChrystal and Breena O’Loughlin had them 2-5, 0-3 ahead at half time. Glen, who were thumped in the championship last year by Ballymaguigan, were out to prove a point and the former county and Ulster champions did exactly that with Leanne McCrystal and Ciara Mulholland dominating.

Steelstown, a team not used to chasing games or losing, fought back in the second half, but they never looked like making a contest of it, although a late penalty from Emma Doherty put at least some respectability on the 2-6, 1-8 scoreline.

This was the holders’ first championship defeat in the county since losing to Ballymaguigan at the semi-final stage back in 2019. It now means the pressure is firmly on them and a further slip up against Ballymaguigan this evening in Celtic Park could end those four in-a-row dreams.

Ballymaguigan, meanwhile began with a comfortable victory over last year’s intermediate champions Ballerin.

Kate and Lauren Crozier both found the net inside the opening four minutes to set them on their way, and although Ballerin fought back, Ballymaguigan responded strongly and finished the first half with four goals in all on their way to a dominant 6-23, 2-6 victory that is sure to make Steelstown sit up and take notice ahead of tonight’s game.

Ballerin v Glen

Glen, following that tremendous victory over Steelstown on night one, will be full of confidence heading into tonight’s encounter at Ballerin. Both teams go into this one in very different mindsets as Ballerin will be hoping to not only respond well from their defeat to Ballymaguigan, but to also sharpen up defensively. Last year’s Intermediate champions know the step up to senior year will present its difficulties and they were shown no mercy in their opening game, but there is still a long way to go.

Ballinascreen v Magherafelt

Ballinascreen were the most emphatic winners on day one of the new season, as they put seven goals past Moneymore on the way to a 34-point victory. They led by 22 points at half time and they still weren’t satisfied, which could be ominous for tonight’s opponents. Magherafelt will be confident however after their own big win over Faughanvale.

Faughanvale v Moneymore

Both teams fell to defeat on day one of the new campaign, making this a very important fixture with both eager to respond well. Moneymore in particular will want to be much better defensively. It wasn’t all bad against Ballinascreen last week with Anna Young, Roisin O’Neill and Eve Diamond all performing well, so they will want to build on those positives at least. Faughanvale, with home advantage, will be eager to show that the result at Magherafelt wasn’t a sign of things to come this season.

ERRIGAL GROUP INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Limavady v Lavey

Limavady were well beaten by Eoghan Rua last week, falling onto the wrong end of a 4-6 to 1-9 scoreline, and while they will want a better showing this time, they will certainly be up against it against high-flying Lavey.  

Lavey’s dual star Carla Collins kicked a late free to edge last year’s junior champions to victory 2-14 to 4-7 in a cracking encounter against Claudy and the confidence gained from that win can only spur them on heading into week two.

Collins finished with an impressive haul of 2-7 for the 17-year-old, while Eilis Toner and Emma Collins helped on the way to a dramatic and exciting victory.

Claudy v Eoghan Rua

Claudy will have been devastated to lose in the manner they did at Lavey last week. A poor first half was followed by a spirited second half fightback, but ultimately, they fell to a late Carla Colins free. On reflection they will realise that they gave themselves too much work to do after a slow start to the game, so they will want to be quicker out of the blocks tonight.

Shauna Doherty was the hero for last year’s beaten finalists Eoghan Rua as she finished with a personal tally of 4-3 to her name against Limavady. She will certainly be the danger for Claudy tonight, but if she gets into her stride, she could be difficult to stop

ERRIGAL GROUP JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Desertmartin v Slaughtmanus

Desertmartin made an emphatic start to the new season, scoring eight goals against a spirited Lissan side. There was no stopping ‘Martin however, who were brilliant and powerful in equal measure. Aslinn McElhennan, Cara Donnelly, Niamh Fullen, Caoimhe Kelly, Roisin McElhennon, Hannah Scullion, Orla Martin and Erin Kelly all got on the scoresheet and it is hard to see Slaughtmanus getting a grip of such a strong attack this evening. Slaughtmanus fell to defeat at Dungiven, and although there plenty of good moments for them in that game, they will have to dig very deep to upset the hosts in game two.

Dungiven v Lissan

Brannagh Brolly’s early goal against Slaughtmanus last week ultimately proved to be the difference in a closely-contested game. Alicia McNicholl, Deobhona McElhinney, Megan Brown and Erin McKeever completed the Dungiven scores on a night of several positives for Dungiven who will be confident of making it two from two tonight.

Lissan were well beaten by Desertmartin and their fragile defence could come under some examination tonight. There were some positives for Lissan however, as they did perform well in parts and they do have a wide range of players capable of scoring, as Caitlin Conway, Anna Loughran, Ellen McCaffrey, Jessica Falls and Lisa McGuigan all showed last week.