Sleacht Neill and Swatragh kept apart

Errigal Group Derry senior championship

Sleacht Néill's top of the table win over Ballinascreen on Friday evening and Swatragh's high-scoring victory over Newbridge mean that last year's finalists have taken the two automatic semi-final spots after the final round of the group games in the Errigal Group Derry senior championship.

It also mean that the pair will be kept apart in the semi-finals that are scheduled for the last weekend of September.

This Saturday Ballinderry is the venue for the quarter-final double-header with Lavey involved in a derby with Bellaghy and Glen taking on Ballinascreen in the other. A draw will then take place immediately after the second game to work out whom each winner on the day will face in the semi-finals.

With Lavey and Swatragh having drawn their opening game in Group B, it was then all down to score difference for the right to top the group. The county champions came out on top in that regard with Newbridge on the receiving end of a clinical display.

Teenager Mary Therese McCullagh hit a hat-trick in each half with Sarah Gribbin’s goal just before half-time Newbridge’s only respite on the night.

In the other game in the group, Glen made life much more difficult for Lavey despite five first half points from Carla Collins putting Lavey in a comfortable 0-8 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Annie Ní Lochlainn and Aoife Curran were the Glen players on target in the first half and Ní Lochlainn closed the gap with a couple of scores as Lavey went 20 minutes of the second half hour without a score. Collins then fired over three late frees for a 0-12 to 0-5 score-line.

While Sleacht Néill were easing to a home over Ballinascreen in Group A, the winner of the other game would be battling for a quarter-final spot.

Blathnaid McLaughlin scored a hat-trick and Eimear Maguire added a fourth goal for Kilrea but Bellaghy's seven goals put the Pearses out of the senior title-race. Orlaith Hull and Aimee Lennon each scored two goals for the Tones while there was one each from Caoimhe Chambers, Rachel Downey and Eimear Doherty.

Saturday 13th September in Ballinderry:- Errigal Group Derry senior championship quarter-finals:- 3.30pm: Ballinascreen v Glen; 5.30pm: Lavey v Bellaghy

There are three groups in the Errigal Group Derry Intermediate championship with the top two from each making the knock-out stages.

After two rounds of fixtures, Division 2 league champions Castledawson and Glenullin are nicely placed to progress from Group A with Castldawson needing just a draw with Greenlough on Tuesday evening to top the group.

In Group B Ballinderry are in top spot with the second qualifier coming from this week’s game between Banagher and Slaughtneil IIs.

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Dungiven are top of Group C after this week’s 5-8 to 3-7 win over Drumsurn who should still qualify for the knock-out stages unless Eoghan Rua Coleraine score a surprise victory over Dungiven.

Errigal Group Derry Intermediate championship:- Group A: Greenlough v Castledawson. Group B: Sleacht Néill II v Banagher, Ballinderry v Bellaghy II. Group C: Eoghan Rua v Dungiven, Ballerin v Drumsurn