Derry Senior Championship quarter-final preview

The Derry Senior Football Championship has entered the knockout phase as the teams prepare to do battle in the quarterfinals.

Glen v Lavey

Owenbeg - Saturday - 5:15 pm

Glen suffered their first defeat in the competition for three years in the first round, but since then they have won every game, and in the last round against Kilrea they looked back to their imposing selves.

Malachy O’Rourke’s side will come into this fixture knowing they are the favourites, and will look to play their game and slowly strangle Lavey to death, something they have done to so many opponents.

Meanwhile, Lavey will come into this game knowing it is a free hit. 

The intermediate league champions have impressed in the senior championship and will not be pushovers.

Narrow defeats to Newbridge and Magherafelt before convincing victories over Ballinascreen, Loup, and Steelstown gave the club the confidence to know they had the ability to compete at this level after a year in intermediate.

Glen should advance, but don’t be surprised when Lavey pushes them right to the end.

Newbridge v Bellaghy

Owenbeg - Saturday - 7 pm

Newbridge suffered their first defeat of the competition in their last game when they had already progressed as group winners.

It was not a true reflection of a side that has been resolute at the back, and the expectation will be that it will be back to porridge as they face Bellaghy this weekend. 

Bellaghy only secured their progression to the knockout phase after defeating Swatragh in the final group game.

They will come into the game as underdogs but will fully believe they have the ability to progress. 

The club had struggled to score against sides that have been strong defensively, and this could be the case again as Newbridge look to stifle their attack.

Expect a tight game, with the likely winners being Newbridge; however, never rule out Bellaghy, as seen in their first knockout game with Swatragh.

Slaughtneil v Ballinascreen

Owenbeg - Sunday - 4:45 pm

The best side in the competition to this point will take the field on Sunday.

Slaughtneil have looked impenetrable and an efficient machine in front of goal, seemingly with little to no weaknesses.

Only Dungiven have posed questions for Mark Doran’s side to this point in the competition.

Ballinascreen will look to become the second, knowing they come into the fixture with little expectation of progress.

They impressed in their last game against Newbridge as they upset the odds to inflict their opponents first defeat of the championship and will look to repeat the trick when they face off against Slaughtneil.

Shane McGuigan has rediscovered the form that earned him an All-Star in 2023 as he finished top scorer in the All-Ireland championship that year.

So, Ballinascreen will need to keep him quiet if they have a hope of making the semi-final.

Magherafelt v Dungiven

Owenbeg - Sunday - 6:30 pm

The final quarterfinal of the competition, and it could be the pick of the lot.

On paper, you would send Magherafelt through to the semi-final, but that would discount the impressive performances Dungiven provided in their final two fixtures against Glen and Slaughtneil, pushing them right to the wire.

Magherafelt have impressed in the championship, having only suffered one defeat against a strong Newbridge. 

There is little to separate the two teams, with both confident in their defences ability to shut the other out; it will be up to the forward lines to decide the game, with the need for clinicality vital for either side to progress.