Perfect weekend for Derry's hurling clubs on Ulster stage

Derry’s hurling clubs had a perfect weekend across the Ulster Club Championships as all three progressed.

Slaughtneil and Swatragh can look forward to provincial finals on the first weekend of December while Ballinascreen can bask in their victorious final performance at the weekend to secure their Ulster title.

The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final between Slaughtneil and Cushendall was broadcast on RTE on Saturday night.

The match captured the attention of many hurling fans across the island with widespread praise on social media about the quality of the match and the drama that unfolded as the Antrim county champions brought the game to extra-time with a last-gasp goal.

However, the Derry side would hold their nerve and secure victory on the scoreline of 1-36 to 3-25.

Slaughtneil should be incredibly proud of their performance, as they were able to knock out the reigning Ulster champions in Armagh on Saturday night.

They now enter the final as favourites following this victory, with the odds stacked in their favour, as the champions of Ulster have either been from Derry or Antrim for the last nine years.

However, the last club to win the championship outside these two counties, their final opponent, Portaferry, so Slaughtneil will be focused on the task at hand as they continue their search for the elusive All-Ireland club championship.

Swatragh meanwhile secured victory over Belfast side Bredagh on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-13 on Sunday afternoon.

The Down side were unable to convert some glorious chances in the game, with Swatragh using all their experience in the vital stages to secure the victory.

This will have been the perfect pallet cleanser for the club after Saturday’s defeat for the club’s camogie side in the senior provincial final. 

James Friel managed five points for the Derry side as they confidently strode to victory, with their opponents for the intermediate final yet to be confirmed due to the postponement of the other semi-final between Carey and Castleblayney.

In the junior championship, Ballinascreen made it a clean sweep for Derry clubs in Ulster as they defeated East Cavan Gaels.

The Derry side made easy work of their opponents as they confidently marched to the title with an impressive 1-25 to 3-9 win. 

This was the first time that a Derry side had won the competition since Eoghan Rua in 2019, with Ballinascreen becoming only the second club from the Oakleaf county to do so.

Eamon Conway proved crucial in the 10-point victory as he managed to score 1-7 on the day as the club celebrated its maiden Ulster Hurling Junior Championship.