Slaughtneil and Lavey take centre stage this weekend

Derry senior hurling kingpins Slaughtneil will take on Down champions Portaferry in a repeat of last year’s provincial decider at the Box-It Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Sunday.

Slaughtneil steamrolled past Kevin Lynches to collect their thirteenth consecutive Fr Collins Cup. It was the sixth time in seven years that the champions faced Lynches in the decider, this time running out comfortable 3-24 to 1-10 victors — an identical scoring difference to the 2023 final, which finished 3-23 to 1-9.

Last year, the Derry kingpins defeated Cushendall after extra time in a pulsating affair at the Box-It Athletic Grounds before eventually edging past Sunday’s opponents, Portaferry, to win their first Four Seasons Cup since 2019.

Now they will once again face the Down champions in a bid to secure their sixth-ever Ulster title and complete their second title defence since claiming back-to-back provincial crowns in 2017. Slaughtneil suffered heartbreak in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final against Cork’s Sarsfields, agonisingly losing out 0-18 to 0-17.

This year, they have been powered by the brilliance of Shea Cassidy, dual star Brendan Rogers, and veteran Chrissy McKaigue. The trio hit a combined 2-15 in the county final triumph over Kevin Lynches in October. Since then, the Derry kingpins have endured a six-week break from competitive action, while Portaferry overcame Ballygalget to win their fourth Down championship in a row three weeks ago. The twenty-five-time Mourne kingpins will have revenge firmly on their minds after last year’s Ulster final defeat.

The Ards men boast a strong contingent from the Down Joe McDonagh Cup team, including Eoghan and Daithí Sands, Tom McGrattan, and Caolán Taggart. McGrattan and Eoghan Sands were central to the Mournemen’s historic 4-22 to 3-18 Division 2 Allianz League triumph over Kildare earlier this year, with the pair contributing a combined 2-11 of Down’s total.

On the other side of the draw, St John’s of Antrim take on Donegal champions Setanta in Owenbeg on Saturday evening. It is the first time that the Donegal champions will partake in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship, underlining the growing strength of the game within the O’Donnell County.

Meanwhile, St John’s secured their first Antrim crown since 1973, defeating a hotly favoured Loughgiel Shamrocks side in a pulsating 2-16 to 1-18 victory.

Elsewhere, 18-time Derry senior champions Erin’s Own Lavey will have a shot at becoming just the third Oakleaf team to win the Ulster Junior Hurling Championship when they take on Burt of Donegal at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Lavey, who sit third in the county roll of honour, have a chance to back up Ballinascreen’s provincial win last year when they overcame East Cavan Gaels before falling to Cork’s Russell Rovers in the All-Ireland semi-final.

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Since last lifting the Fr Collins Cup in 2010, Erin’s Own have placed a huge emphasis on youth development. With four minor titles in the last seven years, that investment now looks to be paying off, with the panel boasting a notably young age profile.

Central to their success this year have been rising stars Fintan Bradley and Rian Collins, who hit a combined tally of 1-12 in the county junior final victory over Banagher.

Martin Convery’s men won’t have to look far for inspiration ahead of Saturday’s showdown, having been beaten by last year’s champions, Ballinascreen, in the 2024 Derry decider. Screen marched all the way to the intermediate final this year, with progress at the heart of Convery’s reign on the sideline.

However, Burt will provide a serious test for the Derrymen. The Donegal side boasts an astonishing forty county titles, the most of any club in Ireland having surpassed Waterford’s Mount Sion in 2014.