Derry Senior Football Championship: Quarterfinal opponents confirmed

The final round of group games of Derry’s senior football championship took place, and it finalised the positions in the group to see who plays who in the quarterfinal of the competition.

Slaughtneil maintained their perfect record with another victory, this time over Dungiven. 

It was a close-fought game throughout, and only two late scores from Peter McCullagh and Sammy Bradley secured the victory for Slaughtneil on a scoreline of 0-10 to 0-8.

Dungiven will be frustrated that they have pushed the ‘big two’ sides in the Derry Championship right to the wire but come up short both times, but they will take confidence from their losses to Glen and Slaughtneil.

Slaughtneil will look to refind their imperious form for the knockout round as they chase their first senior championship title since 2020.

They will now play Ballinascreen in the quarterfinal, while Dungiven will face Magherafelt.

Glen secured second in the group after their dominant victory over Kilrea.

Kilrea fought until the end, but ultimately the quality of Glen proved too much as they won the match 4-15 to 1-15.

Coming into the fixture, Malachy O’Rourke’s side had found it hard to score, but their victory over Kilrea demonstrated their clinical nature and attacking prowess, reminding everyone why they are on the hunt for their fourth straight championship.

The current All-Ireland champions will now turn their attention to the quarterfinals, where they will face the intermediate league champions, Lavey.

The final game of the group was Bellaghy against Swatragh, as the two clubs battled it out for the final spot for the knockout round.

Bellaghy proved too much for Swatragh, as they won 1-17 to 2-08.

Damian Cassidy’s side showed too much in attack as their pace and clinical nature secured the win, meaning they progressed in the championship while Swatragh was eliminated.

The 1993 All-Ireland winner’s side will now face Newbridge in the next round of the competition.

This comes after Newbridge finished top of the other group in the competition.

Newbridge lost their perfect record at the weekend with a defeat to Ballinascreen that allowed both sides to progress to the quarterfinal on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-11.

Newbridge will be upset they could not keep their perfect record but knew they had secured the top spot ahead of the fixture.

Their attention will turn to the quarterfinal, determined for a better performance, as it was a second-half surge from the home side with Ryan Scullion finding the net and Benny Heron converting a penalty, allowing Ballinasceen to progress against the odds.

Lavey eliminated Steelstown with a 3-9 to 0-12 victory.

The city side will be disappointed to have suffered elimination, but their performances did not prove enough, and Lavey once again showed the quality they have and the consistent form across the championship thus far to close out a victory.

It was their pace and power that secured the victory, and the clinical strike force of Nathan Scullion, Niall Duggan, and Segdae Melaugh in front of goal secured the win.

Lavey now have the unenviable task of facing Glen in the quarterfinals, but with the current All-Ireland champions and Lavey proving to enjoy tight affairs, it will make for a great fixture.

The final group game was a battle between Loup and Magherafelt.

Magherafelt secured a victory, coming out on top by two points on the scoreline of 0-7 to 0-5.

Loup will turn to their heavy defeat at the hands of Newbridge and rue it as they missed out on the quarterfinals by points difference.

This loss at home was the final nail in the coffin for Loup’s championship campaign, as Magherafelt carried on their fine form as they now prepare for Dungiven in the quarterfinal.

That knockout fixture will be one that the neutral will be interested in, as both will hope to be in the conversation for the title as outsiders following their championship performances at this point.