Slaughtneil expected to progress

AIB Ulster SFC Quarter Final Slaughtneil v Derrygonnelly - Sunday 2.30 - Celtic Park LAST year Derrygonnelly arrived at Owenbeg and tried to go toe-to-toe with Slaughtneil but ended up on the wrong end of an 18 point hammering. With Mickey Moran’s men looking like a more complete package this season, Slaughtneil will go into the game as red hot favourites. After seeing off Erne Gaels (0-11 to 1-7) to retain the Fermanagh title earlier this month, Martin Greene will once again take his Derrygonnelly side to Derry, this time to Celtic Park. The Harps landed a fifth Fermanagh title but it took a Declan Cassidy point three minutes from the end to see them over the line. They also had to thank veteran goalkeeper Dermot Feely for a brilliant save midway through the second half when Erne Gaels were in control. The Fermanagh champions first won their championship back in 1995, when Feely was also the goalkeeper. Their current team is built around the Leigh, Ryan and Michael Jones with Paul Ward providing the scoring threat. Slaughtneil will have a full hand to pick from with all their dual players coming through the epic Ulster Final win unscathed. It was a momentous achievement but getting the minds focussed will have been the top of this week’s agenda. After last season’s defeat to Scotstown the Emmets will be keen to get a run going in Ulster – back to the days of 2014. Speaking after the Derry final, team spokesman John Joe Kearney's tone was about taking one game at a time but it’s unlikely the Fermanagh champions will put the brakes on the maroon juggernaut. The day before last year’s game clash between the sides, Keelan Feeney and Shane McGuigan helped Slaughtneil land the minor championship. McGuigan is now a fully-fledged senior player and Feeney is the whippet bursting from the defence. The only other change from the previous meeting will see Meehaul McGrath continue ahead of the seasoned Padríg Kelly – one the club's great servants.  The three changes echo the transition there has been since the start of the Mickey Moran era at Emmet Park. The Slaughtneil bench provides options.  Ronan Bradley, Paudie McGuigan, Barry McGuigan, Gerald Bradley, Sean Cassidy, Enda McKaigue, Danny McMullan and Peadar Kearney have experience of championship football. Last year Sammy Bradley scored two goals against the Erne champions and Karl McKaigue registered a contender for goal of the season. Cormac O’Doherty (1-2) was always showing for the ball and tormented Eamon McHugh. Derrygonnelly will have learned their lesson from last season and with Slaughtneil’s recent 11 point county final winning margin, the Erne men may adopt a defensive approach to stay in the game as long as possible. It’s hard to see anything other than another Slaughtneil victory.