Magherafelt power past Slaughtneil with stunning late blitz

A final-quarter surge saw O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt power past Slaughtneil to book their place in Round 2A of the O’Neill’s Derry Senior Football Championship on a 2-21 to 1-15 scoreline in the weekend’s heavyweight bout at Finde Insurance Owenbeg on Sunday evening.

O’Donovan Rossa hit 1-6 without reply to secure a first-round win over their east Derry rivals, despite Slaughtneil leading right up until the forty-ninth minute. However, substitute Johnny McErlaine netted a spectacular goal with his first action since being introduced soon after, turning the game on its head as the seven-time Derry champions booked their place in the next round.

Conall Higgins got Magherafelt up and running with a placed ball inside the first minute, while down at the other end Shane McGuigan cancelled it out with a well-taken score from play. Dan Higgins and Brendan Rogers exchanged superbly taken two-point efforts in a frantic opening, as the scoreboard was tied at 0-3 apiece by the sixth minute.

The decisive moment of the first half came in the seventh minute. Odhrán Lynch’s short kick-out was turned over by Conor Coyle, who fed McGuigan, and the Derry sharpshooter made no mistake, burying his shot into the net. Two minutes later, Coyle almost got a goal of his own, as his rasping shot clipped the crossbar on the way over to push Slaughtneil four ahead.

Magherafelt responded through Paddy McLarnon, Shea McGuckin and a Rory Small two-pointer to level the scoreboard at 1-4 to 0-7 on the quarter-hour mark. McGuigan landed a two-point placed ball in the 18th minute to edge Slaughtneil ahead before Christopher Bradley extended the gap to a goal.

At the other end, Cormac Murphy saw his effort kiss the post as Magherafelt looked to raise a green flag of their own before Eoin McEvoy cut the gap to the minimum soon after. Padraig Cassidy restored the goal advantage, but with the closing action of the half, McGuckin landed another two-pointer as the sides went in at the break separated by the minimum.

Padraig Cassidy opened the second-half scoring, with Eoin McEvoy and Paddy McLarnon responding for O’Donovan Rossa. Ciaran McEldowney then landed a placed ball and a two-pointer to push Slaughtneil three ahead, before Conall Higgins, Shea McGuckin and Eoin McEvoy levelled the game with three unanswered scores.

A Brendan Rogers two-pointer fifteen minutes from time appeared to have swung momentum back towards Robert Emmet’s, while Shane McGuigan pointed to restore the goal advantage. However, that was to be Slaughtneil’s final score of the day, as Magherafelt seized complete control in the remaining minutes.

Paddy McLarnon kicked another superb two-pointer before McErlaine scored a breathtaking goal from outside the 21-yard line to suddenly give Magherafelt a two-point lead.

Conor Coyle tried to respond for Slaughtneil but saw his goal-bound effort well saved by Odhrán Lynch. Cormac Murphy, Rory Small and a Shea McGuckin brace put the game on ice for Magherafelt with four minutes to play, as they pushed 1-21 to 1-15 ahead.

With the last action, Cormac Murphy added the cherry on top with another superbly taken goal to give O’Donovan Rossa a statement nine-point win.

Slaughtneil will now look to regroup as they face Banagher in a do-or-die Round 2B clash. Meanwhile, Magherafelt will take on city-side Steelstown, with a place in the final eight up for grabs.

Slaughtneil: Antoin McMullan; Eamon Cassidy, Paul McNeill, Cahal O'Mianain, Ciaran McEldowney, Fionn McEldowney, Raymond Dillon; Brendan Rogers, Cahal McKaigue; Conor Coyle, Padraig Cassidy, Chrissy McKaigue; Eoin Mulholland, Shane McGuigan, Christopher Bradley.

Scorers: Shane McGuigan 1-4 (1f,1 2p), Brendan Rogers 0-4 (2 2p), Ciaran McEldowney 0-3 (1f, 1 2p), Padraig Cassidy 0-2, Christopher Bradley 0-1 (1f), Conor Coyle 0-1.

Substitutes: Patsy Bradley for Fionn McEldowney (HT), Peter McCullagh for Raymond Dillon (43 mins), Shea Cassidy for Eoin Mulholland (45 mins), Se McGuigan for Christopher Bradley (53 mins), Deaglan McNamee for Chrissy McKaigue (53 mins).

Magherafelt: Odhran Lynch; Turlough Cartin, James Murray, Conall Heron; Rory Small, Michael McEvoy, Conor McCluskey; Dan Higgins, Eoin McEvoy; Aidan McCluskey, Cahir Spiers, Paddy McLarnon; Cormac Murphy, Shea McGuckin, Conall Higgins.

Scorers: Shea McGuckin 0-6 (2f, 1 2p), Paddy McLarnon 0-4 (1 2p), Cormac Murphy 1-1, Johnny McErlaine 1-0, Eoin McEvoy 0-3, Conall Higgins 0-2, Dan Higgins 0-2 (1 2p), Rory Small 0-2.

Substitutes: Johnny McErlain for Dan Higgins (45 mins), Cahir Quinn for Cahir Spiers (50 mins), Giusseppe Luipari for Michael McEvoy (51 mins)