Nine-in-a-row champions Slaughtneil answer doubters emphatically!

Errigal Derry senior camogie final

Slaughtneil 1-15

Swatragh 0-7

THREE weeks before Sunday’s Errigal Derry senior camogie final, Slaughtneil were taken to the edge by Ballinascreen in a tense semi-final in awful playing conditions. There was very much a sense of vulnerability about them and that led to speculation that their eight year reign at the top in the county could come to an end against Swatragh in the decider.

Slaughtneil emphatically answered their doubters in Bellaghy on Sunday with a superb first half that left them nine points clear at the break and just waiting to be crowned champions for a ninth season in a row.

When the history of this great run is written, perhaps there might be a footnote acknowledging the part played by the hurlers and footballers in refreshing the camogie team.

Just after they won their first All-Ireland title, Patsy Bradley brought an Offaly senior star, Tina Hannon, to live in the area. She has made a huge impact, but wasn’t available this year.

Now Brendan Rogers has stepped forward bringing former Down All-Ireland Junior winning defender Bríd McGourty into the fold. The Slaughtneil management in their wisdom gave McGourty a forward role since her transfer earlier this season from her native Ballycran.

McGourty rewarded them on Sunday with three points in the first half and then the only goal of the game ten minutes from time.

Those scores certainly made an impression but in truth Slaughtneil dominated their neighbours right across the pitch with Aoife Ní Chaiside most people’s choice as Player of the Match while Céat McEldowney and free-taker Olivia Rafferty also put in a big shift.

The champions led by 0-11 to two pointed frees from Máiréad McNicholl at the break; McGourty’s three points were added to by four from Rafferty and singles from Cliona Mulholland, Brídín McAllister and Caoimhe Kearney.

The result was in the bag at that stage even though Swatragh had the aid of a slight breeze for the second half. The Davitt’s opened the scoring with a point from Aoibheann Mullan, but it was soon back to normal service.

Points from Rafferty (free), Kearney and then two from Sinéad Mellon made it 0-15 to 0-4 midway through the half. McGourty’s goal was the final nail in Swatragh’s coffin.

While Swatragh are left to reflect on another final in which they failed to deliver a performance, Slaughtneil move into an Ulster semi-final with the Antrim champions on November 4th.

Down has now been added to the Ulster senior title race after Clonduff secured their second All-Ireland Intermediate title last Christmas. But there have been shocks in the Mourne county over the past fortnight with Liatroim Fontenoys ending a seven year wait by defeating Clonduff in the semi-final and then taking out Ballygalget in the decider on Sunday. Liatroim go straight into the Ulster final that is pencilled in for November 18th.

Slaughtneil: B McGourty 1-3, O Rafferty 0-5, 4 frees, C Kearney 0-2, S Mellon 0-2, C Mulholland 0-1, B McAllister 0-1, E McGuigan 0-1.

Swatragh: M McNicholl 0-4, 3 frees, A Mullan 0-1, C Conway 0-1, E Murray 0-1

Slaughtneil: J McMullan, C Glass, Céat McEldowney, C Ní Mhianáin, L Dougan, A Ní Chaiside, C McGrath, B McAllister, C Mulholland, S Bradley, O Rafferty, B McGourty, E McGuigan, S Mellon, C Kearney

Subs: Carla McEldowney for S Mellon (55), Chantelle McEldowney for E McGuigan (59)

Swatragh: N McQuillan, B Kearney, S O’Doherty, C O’Kane, C Bradley, N Quinn, C Turner, D O’Kane, C Conway, M McNicholl, G McAtamney, B McCullagh, S Quinn, A Mullan, D McGuckin

Subs: G Quinn for c Conway (43), E Murray for C O’Kane (55)