No surprises as Slaughtneil dominate on their way to another senior title

Slaughtneil 3-23
Kevin Lynch’s 1-9 

Slaughtneil turned on the style at Owenbeg to shoot their way to a staggering 11th Derry title in succession against Kevin Lynch’s 

The Emmet’s led 0-13 to 0-1 at the break before three Brendan Rogers goals cemented their dominance in a game that was over long before Eamonn Hasson’s final whistle. 

Michael McShane’s side now have to wait until December for their next game, an Ulster final against the winners of Down or Antrim. 

From the moment Peter McCullagh notched the champions in front after 13 seconds, there was air sniff of inevitability about it. 

Four points in the first 10 minutes from four different scorers was a contrast to Kevin Lynch’s missing four chances. 

Ruairí Ó Mianáin was conducting the orchestra from centre back with Mark McGuigan operating in the space left with Mark Craigh dropping to limit the chance of an early goal. 

By half time, Slaughtneil were 0-13 to 0-1 ahead and may had two goals with McCullagh blazing over and Mark McGuigan pulling a shot wide. 

Tiarnán McHugh almost had the Emmet’s net bulging early in the second half only for Sean Cassidy’s block and Richie Mullan drilled over from the resulting 65. 

Rogers struck for goal as early as the 35th minute when he found himself one on one with Paddy Kelly before slotting across the dive to Liam Hinphey to the net, 

It was a penetrating run along the end line to make room for his second goal. 

Ronan Mullan’s goal for Kevin Lynch’s only kicked the winners into gear for a third goal. Again, it was Rogers with the finish after Liam Hinphey made a saved to deny Peter McCullagh. 

Jack Cassidy and Sean O’Doherty tagged on points for the winners with Hinphey making a further save to deny Rogers a fourth goal. 

Teams and scorers 

Slaughtneil: O O’Doherty; P McNeill, S Cassidy, J McCloskey; C McAllister, R Ó Mianáin (0-3), M McGrath; B Rogers (3-2), G Bradley (0-2); J Cassidy (0-1), M McGuigan (0-2), E Cassidy (0-2); C O’Doherty (0-8, 6f, 1 65), P McCullagh (0-2), K McKaigue 

Subs: Michael McEldowney for P McNeill (48), Shea Cassidy for K McKaigue (50), S O’Doherty (0-1) for E Cassidy (60) 

Kevin Lynch’s: L Hinphey; N McGonigle, P Kelly, E Cassidy; Richie Mullan (0-5, 2f, 2 65), M Craig, D McGilligan; J Mullan, S O’Neill; C O’Reilly (0-4), T McHugh, T Brady; Ronan Mullan (1-0), S Kelly, E McKeever;  

Subs: O McElhinney for S Kelly (35), S Higgins for E McKeever (47)

Referee: E Hasson (Swatragh)