Shane McGuigan goal separates Slaughtneil and Glen

O’Neills Senior Football Championship Group A 

Slaughtneil 1-11

Glen 0-11

SHANE McGuigan’s first half goal was to be the score that separated the sides at their end of their encounter in Owenbeg on Saturday evening. 

The county star had struck the inside of the post from the penalty spot but he was thankful to see the ball come straight back at him and he fired home to put his side in front for the first time and a lead they never were to let slip. It handed the holders a first championship defeat in the county since the Emmets had beaten them at the quarter-final stages in September 2020. 

Glen started seven of the side that lined out for the All-Ireland final but introduced another four during the second half. Slaughtneil, too were missing a number of regulars as the sides began a campaign with both expected to be in the business end come October. While this result may not have the same importance of previous championship encounters, it is still a meeting that attracts the supporters in big numbers and bragging rights until the next big clash. When Jerome McGuigan put the winners four clear with just minutes remaining it looked the insurance score but Glen almost snatched a draw when a shot was cleared off the line by Chrissy McKaigue in added time. 

It took less then a minute for Glen to open their account when the returning Danny Tallon gathered possession and swung over. Shane McGuigan who finished with 1-4, and Tallon traded frees before the lively Christopher Bradley levelled the game for a second time. The first sniff of a goal chance came on 10 minutes when Odhran Molloy and Ciaran McFaul combined but Molloy’s low price was tipped out for a ’45 by Jack Cassidy. His opposite number, Connlan Bradley converted the ’45 and a fine score from range by Cahir McCabe pushed Glen two clear. McGuigan (free) and Eunan Mulholland kept it a two point game entering the final 10 minutes of the half. 

Christopher Bradley with his second and then that all-important goal arrived. McGuigan was fouled on his way towards goal and was on hand to fire to the net when he gathered the rebound from his spot kick off the post. Slaughtneil, had hit the front for the first time and they gained momentum from this to tag on a further point from ‘keeper Jack Cassidy to lead at the break 1-5 to 0-5. 

The excellent Eamonn Cassidy converted from a mark to make it a four point game early in the second half. Glen introduced both Emmet Bradley and Ethan Doherty while sandwiched in between those changes Tallon struck over two points from a mark and a free. Shane McGuigan restored a three point advantage but this was back to the minimum with 13 minutes remaining with Conor Gallagher and Conleth McGuckian points. 

Jerome McGuigan fisted over, then a Tallon free six minutes from time. A free by Shane McGuigan and then another from Eamonn Cassidy had it a three point game again as the clock hit the 60 minute mark. Jerome McGuigan finished a breakaway after a loose ball in the goalmouth area was cleared away, with a superb point to open the four point lead. 

Substitute Ryan Dougan with a point from a mark when he caught a high delivery into the danger area. Another delivery almost yielded the equalising goal when this time Emmett Bradley fielded before his laying off and as the shot headed goalwards, it took a deflection and fell for Chrissy McKaigue to clear the danger. There was still further drama as Glen turned Slaughtneil over but as Conleth McGuckian tried to release Eunan Mulholland the ball sailed over his head and Slaughtneil had got their campaign off to a winning start. 

Next up is another derby encounter as Swatragh will make the short trip to Emmet Park in two weeks’ time, while for Glen it is a visit to Bellaghy for them in round two. 

Teams & Scorers

Slaughtneil: S McGuigan 1-4 (0-3f), C Bradley, J McGuigan and E Cassidy 0-2 (1m) each, J Cassidy 0-1

Glen: D Tallon 0-4 (2f, 1m), C Bradley (’45), C McCabe, E Mulholland, C Gallagher, C McGuckian and R Dougan (m) 0-1 each. 

Slaughtneil: Jack Cassidy; Karl McKaigue, Chrissy McKaigue, Eamonn Cassidy; Christopher Bradley, Paul McNeil, Fionn McEldowney; Brendan Rogers, Jerome McGuigan; Cahal McKaigue, Shane McGuigan, Deaglan McNamee; Eoin Mulholland, Peter McCullagh, Cormac O’Doherty. 

Subs: Shea Cassidy for McNamee, Se McGuigan for O’Doherty, Mark McGuigan for Mulholland, Ruairi McCartney for McCullagh, Sean Cassidy for J McGuigan. 

Glen: Connlan Bradley; Michael Warnock, Danny McDermott, Conor Gallagher; Tiarnan Flanagan, Ciaran McFaul, Odhran Molloy; Jody McDermott, Chair McCabe; Conor Convery, Conleth McGuckian, Eunan Mulholland; Johnny McGuckian, Danny Tallon, Marc Dixon. 

Subs: Emmett Bradley for McCabe, Ethan Doherty for Dixon, Ryan Dougan for Gallagher, Connor Carville for J McGuckian. 

Referee: Martin McErlane