New look Derry Championship draw takes place
Newbridge will begin their defence of the John McLaughlin cup with a clash against Dungiven following Thursday nights championship draws
Reigning county senior football champions Newbridge will begin their defence of the John McLaughlin cup with a clash against Dungiven following the championship draws that took place in Owenbeg on Thursday evening last.
After lifting a first title in 35 years in October, the ‘Bridge now set their sights on retaining the crown. Ciaran Brooks was the match winner when he fired over an injury time point to record a 1-12 to 2-8 victory over the then All-Ireland champions Glen, who were looking a fourth successive county title. They have already tasted success this year, with the league title is safely wrapped up, so all attention is firmly on the clash with Dungiven now.
It is a new look senior championship which now has 16 teams involved, an increase of four sides from previous years. It also has a new format, with the groups now changed to a back door system. All 16 teams were in the one bowl for round 1. The stand out tie will be the meeting of Magherafelt and Ballinascreen. The Rossa men won the head to head quarter final in 2023 by the narrowest of margins while they had six points to spare last year in their group stages encounter.
Also catching the eye will be Intermediate champions and All-Ireland runners-up Ballinderry against Bellaghy, a meeting that in previous times was a huge clash so it will be one that brings back many memories for the clubs. In a 21 year period between 1994 and 2014, these sides were regular finalists with one of them making the decider in all but two of those years, The Shamrocks appeared in 13 of those finals, winning seven while Bellaghy won five of their six appearances. In that period they met in four finals with the Wolfe Tones coming out on top in three of them.
Glen, who will be hoping to bounce back into the winners enclosure, will face Banagher who return to the top table again while Slaughtneil meet Kilrea. The winners of Round 1 will go forward to 2A while the losers they go into 2B and that safety net will be removed with no second chances left for them. Also, a second defeat at the stage would see them enter the Relegation play-offs.
In the Leadon Timber Frame Hurling Championship, Slaughtneil will go in looking to land their 13th successive title. The Robbies were drawn in a group with Lavey, NaMagha and Kevin Lynch's. Last year's beaten finalists Banagher are in with Ballinascreen, Eoghan Rua and Swatragh. The format will be the same as last year with the top two sides in each group going forward into the senior semi-finals to see who will meet in the final and the loser will face off in the intermediate final. Third and fourth in each group will battle it out for a place in the junior final.
The McFeely Group Intermediate Football Championship will consist of 12 teams and they were split into four groups of three. Junior champions from last year, Craigbane, will face Ballerin and Foreglen in their group. Two sides that will be very much tipped to be in the shake up will be Castledawson and Eoghan Rua and they are in the same group. Group C looks tasty with one of Desertmartin, Glenullin or Greenlough set to exit the championship at the group stage. The top two sides in each group will advance to the quarter-final stages with the bottom side into a Relegation playoff.
In the Premier Electrics Junior Football Championship, nine teams will battle it out with three teams in each group. Following the group stages the lowest ranked team will bow out with the other eight going forward to the knockout stages.
The hurling is set to begin 9/10 August and the football the following weekend 16/17 August.
O’Neill's Senior Football Championship:- Round 1 - Steelstown v Faughanvale; Banagher v Glen; Lavey v Drumsurn; Magherafelt v Ballinascreen; Swatragh v Loup; Slaughtneil v Kilrea; Ballinderry v Bellaghy
Dates and Format:- Round 1 - 16/17 August; Round 2 - 30/31 August; 2A - Winner Round 1 v Winner Round 1; 2B - Loser of Round 1 v Loser of Round 1; Round 3 - 13/14 September; Loser of Round 2A v Winner of Round 2B; Quarter Final - 27/28 September; Winner of Round 2A v Winner of Round 3; Semi Final - 11/12 October; Final - 19 October
McFeely Group Intermediate Football Championship:- Group A - Claudy; Lissan; Limavady. Group B - Ballerin; Craigbane; Foreglen. Group C - Castledawson; Eoghan Rua; Ballymaguigan. Group D - Desertmartin; Glenullin; Greenlough
Dates and Format:- Groups; Round 1 - 16/17 August; Round 2 - 3031 August; Round 3 - 13/14 September; Quarter Final - 27/28 September. Top two sides from each group. Semi Final - 11/12 October; Final - 19 October
Premier Electrics Junior Football Championship:- Group A - Ardmore; Doire Colmcille; Moneymore. Group B - Drum; Magilligan; Slaughtmanus. Group C - Sean Dolans; Doire Trasna; Glack.
Dates and Format:- Groups; Round 1 - 16/17 August; Round 2 - 30/31 August; Round 3 - 13/14 September; Quarter Final - 27/28 September. Top eight ranked teams after group stages. Semi Final - 11/12 October; Final - 18 October
Leadon Timber Frame Hurling Championship:- Group A - Lavey; Na Magha; Kevin Lynch; Slaughtneil. Group B - Ballinascreen; Eoghan Rua; Swatragh; Banagher.
Dates and Format:- Group Games; Round 1 - 9/10 August; Round 2 - 23/24 August; Round 3 - 6/7 September; Semi Final - 20/21 September. Top two teams from each group into senior and Intermediate semi final winners into the senior final and losers into the intermediate final. Third and fourth in groups into the junior semi finals. Final - 5 October