GAA: Full round-up of Wednesday's Derry senior league games

There was a full round of Derry club games on Wednesday night.   Swatragh 0-10 Ballinderry 0-4 Swatragh began their season with a six point win at Shamrock Park. Four points each from James and Francis Kearney saw Swatragh in control but they needed a save from Mick O’Kane to deny Oisin Duffin from close range. Leading by three points at the break, Swatragh scored three points in six minutes at the start of the second-half to power their way to victory. Both teams ended the game with 14 men, with a straght red for Ryan Bell and Francis Kearney to a second booking in separate incidents. Swatragh: Mick O’Kane, Sean Francis Quinn, Diarmuid Dillon, Philip Mooney, Liam Kearney, Patrick Kearney (0-1), Niall Coyle, Jude McAtamney, Conor McAtamney (0-1), Fintan McGurk, James Kearney (0-4f), Cathal Quinn, Francis Kearney (0-4, 3f), Brian Diamond, Robert McWilliams. Subs: Dominic Bradley, Paddy Bradley. Ballinderry: Ben McKinless, Conor Wilkinson, Daniel Bateson, Ryan O’Neill, Darren Lawn, Connor Nevin, Raymond Wilson, James Conway, Kevin McGuckin, Dermot McGuckin, Conleith Gilligan (0-2, 1f), Ryan Bell (0-1), Oisin Duffin, Daniel McKinless, Caolan Mallaghan. Subs: Ryan Scott, Adam Mullan, Matt Quinn, Thomas Donnelly (0-1). Full report and photos from Shamrock Park will be in Tuesday’s County Derry Post. Magherafelt 0-10 Ballinascreen 0-7 The accuracy of man of the match Shane Heavron saw 2016 league champions Magherafelt overcome Ballinascreen at Rossa Park. The teams went in level (0-3 each) at half-time, after a drab affair on a heavy pitch.  Benny Heron and Carlus McWilliams were on target for Ballinascreen. With Ballinascreen trailing 0-7 to 0-4, Brendan Herron was shown a black card.  It was a blow to the visitors, as Magherafelt took control at midfield. The home side controlled the second-half, but were unable to shake off Ballinascreen until late frees from Shane Heavron saw Adrian Cush’s men grab both points. Magherafelt: Odhrán Lynch, Conor McCluskey, Darren O'Neill, Paul O’Kane, Fergal Duffin, Joe Keenan, Michael McEvoy (0-1), Jared Monaghan (0-2), John Young, Anton McElhone, Emmett McGuckin, Niall Higgins, Declan Martin, Shane Heavron (0-7, 6f), Conor Kearns. Ballinascreen: Niall McGlade, Aaron Bradley, Michael McShane, Dermot McBride, Ronan Devlin, Carlus McWilliams (0-2, 1f), Eoghan Gilmore, Brendan Herron, Phillip Bradley, Benny Heron (0-2, 1f), Barry Grant (0-1), Martin Bradley, Paul Cleary (0-2), Paul Burns, Gary Conway Subs: Anton Kelly, Emmet Duggan, Sean Doyle, Sean Woods, Anton Scullion. Greenlough 0-12 Glenullin 0-10 Greenlough overturned a two point half time deficit to record an opening day league victory in Glenullin. The home side were out of the blocks quickly with a point from the throw-in.  With Dermot O’Kane in fine form frees, the ‘Glen punished any Greenlough indiscretions. Greenlough took a while to get into the game with Glenullin sitting back with up to five men covering their defence with only two Greenlough men within 30 yards of their goal, forcing the visitors to turn back down the field a lot and slow the game down. After a couple of frees from captain Enda Lynn and Caolan Diamond, Greenlough gradually pulled back into the game, with Caolan showing well and setting up a couple of scores even with very close attention. There was a point on his debut for young defender Michael McDonnell, but with the defensive set up Greenlough still struggled to get on top, and they trailed 0-7 to 0-5 at the break. It was a strong second half performance from the 'Wee Reds' who kept the home side at bay for 20 minutes after the restart while reeling six unanswered points of their own, Derry captain Enda Lynn and Brian McCallion in particular catching the eye for Niall Conway’s men. The home side had a second wind with the introduction of Ruairi Bradley, the substitute landing two points to keep their hopes alive of taking the points on offer but a late score by substitute Conall McErlean sealed the points for the ‘Lough. While Glenullin never looked like troubling the Greenlough goal, despite getting into double figures in the wides tally, but eventually ran out of time, to ensure the St Oliver Plunkett's men got off to a winning start. Greenlough: Michael J Henry, Christopher Lagan, Paul Quinn, Mark Tohill, Brian McCallion (0-2), Stefan Lynn, Michael McDonnell (0-1), Enda McNally, Niall Bradley, Connor Madden, Caolan Diamond (0-1f), Matthew Bradley (0-1), Christopher Kearney, Enda Lynn (0-6, 4f), John Loughlin. Subs: Conal McErlean (0-1), Damien McTeague. Glenullin: Pearse McNicholl, Daniel O’Kane, Fergal McIlvar, Mark O’Kane, Conor Rafferty, John O’Kane, James Conway, Traglach Bradley (0-1), Neil McNicholl, Christopher Dempsey (0-1), Gerard O’Kane, Fearghal Close, Niall O’Kane, Dermot O’Kane (0-5, 4f), Leigh Mullan (0-1). Subs: Ruairi Rafferty (0-2f). Newbridge 1-17 Kilrea 1-12 Newly promoted Newbridge put in a barnstorming second-half performance at home to Kilrea. Paddy Bradley’s side trailed 0-11 to 0-5 at the break and a Kilrea goal from Larry Kielt in the first minute of the second-half put them nine points clear. But seven points from Jude Diamond and a goal from substitute Kevin Sweeney turned the game.  With eight minutes to go Sweeney hammered to the top corner of the net, to put Newbridge one point ahead. Newbridge: Stephen Bateson, Declan McKeever, Odhran Scott, Dessie McColgan, Conor McGrogan, Eamon Burke (0-2), Ciaran Brooks (0-1), Michael Bateson (0-2), Conor Doherty (0-1), Danny Mulholland (0-1), Jude Diamond (0-7, 3f), Mark McGrogan (0-2), Paddy McGuigan, PJ O’Neill, Padraig McGrogan. Subs: Caolan McGrogan, Kevin Sweeney (1-0), Peter McGrogan, Odhran McGlone (0-1), Aedan McGlone. Kilrea: Paul Morgan, John Darragh, Brian Óg McAlary (0-1), Gearoid McLaughlin (0-1), Eamon Darragh, Charlie Kielt, Odhran Rafferty, James Kielt (0-5f), Ruaridh Donaghy, Paddy Quigg (0-2), Larry Kielt (1-1), Conor Gillen, Daithi McLaughlin, Benny Quigg (0-3, 1f), Kevin Quinn. Subs: Enda McAleese, Daniel Cassidy, Tiarnan Quigg, Rory Maguire. Coleraine 2-13 Claudy 2-4 League champions Coleraine got the defence of their title off to a winning start with a 2-13 to 2-4 home win over Claudy. Opting to play with the aid of the strong downfield wind Eoghan Rua were rocked after just five minutes with a brilliant Aaron Kerrigan goal, his shot  flashed across the square to the roof of the Coleraine net. However the home side were ahead within a minute of that goal, Colm McGoldrick pointing from long range before the same player put his brother Barry in to round the goalkeeper and slot to the net. Claudy defended stoutly for long periods of the first half holding Coleraine to  five points, 1-6 to 1-1, before the home side got their second goal, Richard Carey finishing following a turnover deep in the Eoghan Rua defence. The winners finished the half strongly to lead 2-8 to 1-1 at the break. Claudy scored the opening two points of the second half, Aaron Kerrigan from a free and Aaron Donaghy from long range but Coleraine responded through a Liam McGoldrick pointed free. The sides then traded points as Coleraine played ‘keep ball’ for long periods against the stiffening wind, nine point still between the sides. Claudy got their second goal going into the last ten minutes threatening a comeback but that was their last score of the game. Again the home side finished strongly adding a further three points, including a brilliant effort from Ciaran Mullan following another darting run, Colm McGoldrick, a free and Ruari Mooney completing the scoring for a 2-13 to 2-4 victory. Coleraine: Ryan McGeough, Ciaran Lagan, Liam McGoldrick (0-4, 2f, 1 ‘45’), Barry Daly, Ciaran Mullan (0-1), Barry McGoldrick (1-0), Ciaran Lenehan, Niall Holly (0-1), Shea McLaughlin, Ruari Mooney (0-2), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-2), Gavan McWilliams, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Colm McGoldrick (0-3, 2f), Richard Carey (1-0). Subs: Declan Mullan. Claudy: Kieran Reilly, Ross Stevenson, Fionain Smith, Jamie Brown, Blaine Carlin, Conor Johnston, Aaron Donaghy (0-1), Shane McGahon, Darrell Devine, Conall White (1-0), Oran Armstrong, Jamie Donaghy, Ryan Brown, Aaron Kerrigan (1-4), Odhran McCloskey. Subs: Paddy Hargan, Barry Cartin. Loup 2-11 Bellaghy 0-13 It was a tale of two penalties.  The Tones were playing with a big breeze in the  first-half and dominated first twenty minutes of the game but were wasteful in front of the goals but still led the game 0-5 to 0-2. In the 18^th minute Loup were awarded a dubious penalty for touching the ball inside the square.  Ciaran Devlin tucked it away to level the game. Bellaghy got another couple of points to end the half 0-8 to 1-3 in the lead. In the second-half both teams exchanged scores before Loup got on top in the middle third and kicked three points ahead. Bellaghy got one back to leave it a two point game but when pushing for scores they were caught in defence and committed a foul inside the square with only a few minutes left which was again converted by Ciaran Devlin to put Loup up by five points. Bellaghy plugged away to narrow the gap, but Loup held on for the win. Typical first league game with lots of silly mistakes on both teams.  Declan Cassidy for Bellaghy and Terence O’Brien for Loup had fine games. Loup: Thomas Mallon (0-1f), Conan Bradley, Dominic McVey, Gary Doyle, Aidan McAlynn, Conall McGinley, Sean Rocks (0-1), Terence O’Brien (0-2, 1f), Roddy O’Kane (0-1), Craig O’Kane (0-2), Gavin Mallon, Paul Young, Anthony O’Neill (0-2f), Ciaran Devlin (2-2, 2 pens), Declan McVey. Subs: Feargal McVey. Bellaghy: Benny Diamond, Marc McClenaghan, Gerard O'Neill, Jack McErlean, Declan Cassidy (0-1), Ryan Lee, Karl McCallion, Peter Cassidy (0-1), Ryan McNally (0-2), Chris McAfee, Eoghan Brown (0-3, 1f), Odhran Quinn, Lorcan Spier (0-1), Frankie Donnelly (0-1), Ruairi McElwee (0-5, 4f). Subs:  Conan Brown, Dara Lee. Full coverage from all three divisions in Tuesday's County Derry Post.