Wednesday night was a busy night in Derry SFL Division One with a full round of games.
Magherafelt 1-16 Slaughtneil 1-14
Last season it was a late Paul Bradley free that broke Magherafelt hearts in the white heat of championship battle.
On Wednesday night it was a late Shane Heavron goal that grabbed victory for Magherafelt and takes them three points clear of Glen at the top.
Shane McGuigan’s early goal for Slaughtneil was the perfect start and with Karl McKaigue and Paul Bradley supplying scores the visitors were looking good value for their dominance.
In a high-scoring first half Magherafelt Emmett McGuckin, Shea Murphy, Antone McElhone, Shane and Danny Heavron were on target as they trailed 1-10 to 0-10 at half time.
Four points in a row at the start of the second half edged the Rossa ahead but Paul Bradley, Ronan Bradley and Padríg Kelly kept Slaughtneil’s noses in front.
Magherafelt had two goal chances in the closing stages, hitting the post with one and the other was saved by Antóin McMullan.
With time almost up Slaughtneil looked like they were about to end Magherafelt’s winning run before Heavron stuck for the dramatic late goal.
Magherafelt Scorers: Shane Heavron 1-4, Shea Murphy 0-5 (0-2 ‘45’s’), Emmett McGuckin 0-4, Antone McElhone, Danny Heavron and Niall Higgins 0-1 each.
Slaughtneil Scorers: Paul Bradley 0-4 (0-2 frees), Karl McKaigue 0-3, Ronan Bradley, Francis McEldowney 0-2 each, Padríg Kelly 0-1 free, Paul McNeill and Cormac O’Doherty 0-1 each.
Dungiven 0-11 Ballinascreen 0-11
After a shaky start Dungiven are beginning to get a degree of stability into their season.
With four minutes to go on Wednesday night it looked bleak for them. They had goalkeeper Kevin Farren sent off for lashing out at a ‘Screen forward standing in front of his kick-out.
Down a man and trailing ‘Screen by five points Dungiven had a decision to make. Roll over or battle?
Brendan Hughes’ team chose the latter and reeled off four unanswered points from Conor Murphy, Ryan McElhinney, substitutes Niall Smyth and Mark Craig.
In the closing stages Murphy capped of the comeback with a fine point from all of 50 metres to grab a point.
Another positive was the return from injury of Sean Murray. For ‘Screen Benny Heron and Shane Mulgrew continue to carry the scoring threat and will see it as a point dropped.
Dungiven Scorers: Conor Murphy 0-5, Ryan McElhinney 0-4 (0-2 frees), Niall Smyth and Mark Craig 0-1 each.
Ballinascreen Scorers: Shane Mulgrew 0-4 (0-2 frees), Benny Heron 0-4 (0-1 free), Gary Conway, Carlus McWilliams and Dermot McBride 0-1 each.
Glen 1-19 Coleraine 1-10
With Emmett Bradley to the fore Glen had another win taking them to second place in the table as they continue to build on their underage promise.
Glen regrouped from trailing 0-4 to 0-1 early on but Colm McGoldrick’s 25th minute goal saw Eoghan Rua retake the lead. Glen replied to head into the break 0-12 to 0-7 ahead.
In the second half Bradley upped the ante again for Glen with Danny Tallon a capable support act. Colm McGoldrick blazed wide from a penalty at a crucial stage of the half.
Tallon capped off a fine Glen move for a goal to open up a gap and when Ciaran McCloy saved Ciaran McGoldrick’s spot kick the home side kicked on for victory.
Glen Scorers: Emmett Bradley 0-9 (0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘45’), Danny Tallon 1-4 (0-2 frees), Ciaran McFaul 0-3, Conall Darragh, Paul Gunning and Ryan Winton 0-1 each.
Coleraine Scorers: Colm McGoldrick 1-2, Niall Holly, Ruairi Mooney, Gavin McWilliams 0-2 each, Declan Mullan and Richard Carey 0-1 each.
Loup 4-18 Kilrea 0-17
Kilrea fell to their first defeat of the season in a pulsating, free-scoring encounter against Loup.
Johnny McBride’s side got off to an electric start in the opening ten minutes and led 1-4 to 0-0 with Kilrea under the cosh and at once point trailed by ten points.
With James Kielt continuing his shooting form Kilrea reduced the gap to 2-7 to 0-7 at half time.
In the second half Kilrea pushed forward as they chased the game but Loup picked them off for two more goals to put the game to bed.
Loup Scorers: Paul McVey 0-4, Terence O’Brien, Paul Young 1-1 each, Jason Rocks, Michael McVey 1-0 each, Ciaran Devlin, Anthony O’Neill, Declan McVey, Brian Doyle 0-2 each, Aidan McAlynn, Thomas McVey, Gavin Mallon and Karl Gallagher 0-1 each.
Kilrea Scorers: James Kielt 0-6 (0-4 frees), Benny Quigg 0-4 (0-2 frees), Charlie Kielt 0-3, Steven Johnston 0-2, Chrissy Quigg and Eoghan Rogers 0-1 each.
Newbridge 1-8 Greenlough 0-11
The draw specialists Newbridge were at it again in their midweek game against Greenlough with Peter McGrogan coming to his side’s rescue
Nathan Rocks scored the only goal of the game in the first half but Greenlough’s sheer effort was rewarded when Niall Loughlin equalised just before (1-2 to 0-5) at half time.
After the break Loughlin continued his scoring for as Greenlough built a four point lead with Kevin McCann in target as well as substitutes Paul Tohill and Gary McPeake.
Dessie McColgan, Nathan Rocks kick-started the comeback with McGrogan keeping his cool to level the game late on.
Newbridge Scorers: Nathan Rocks 1-1, Peter McGrogan 0-3 (0-2 frees), Jude Diamond, Eamon Burke, Kevin Sweeney and Dessie McColgan 0-1 each.
Greenlough Scorers: Niall Loughlin 0-5 (0-4 frees), Gary McPeake, Brian McCallion, Ryan Tohill, Christopher Lagan, Kevin McCann and Paul Tohill 0-1 each.
Banagher 2-16 Claudy 0-8
This game was over as a contest early on as a ravenous Banagher went in search of their first points of the season.
Goals from Steafan McCloskey and Eugene O’Kane capped off their dominance with Mark Lynch also chipping in with points.
With James McClay and Martin Donaghy on the injured list Claudy were short scoring options and when they lost Aaron Kerrigan to a second yellow card the game was effectively over.
Banagher Scorers: Eugene O’Kane 1-2 (0-1 free), Mark Lynch 0-4 (0-1 free), Gavin O’Neill 0-3, Steafan McCloskey 1-0, Peter Hagan 0-2 (0-1 free), Brian Óg McGilligan 0-1 ‘45’, Eoin Devine, Paul Cartin, Christopher Guy and Pauric McCloskey 0-1 each.
Claudy Scorers: Aaron Kerrigan, Oran Armstrong 0-2 frees each, Darrell Devine, Paddy Hargan, Conor Johnston and Shea Kerrigan 0-1 each.
Ballinderry 1-12 Lavey 1-10
There has never been much separating these rivals in the recent past when they have crossed paths in championship action.
On Wednesday night the game was deadlocked going into the dying minutes but points from Lee Martin and Raymond Wilson saw the Shamrock’s grab both points.
It was nip and tuck in the opening 20 minutes before James Bateson’s goal put Ballinderry 1-2 to 0-4 ahead. If Bateson’s goal was a cracker, then Niall Toner wasn’t far behind him with his 4th goal of the season to tie the game at half time.
Ten minutes into the second half Ryan Farren was black carded and Ballinderry were awarded a penalty but Conleith Gilligan had his attempt saved by Karl Webb.
Lavey were two points ahead but intense Ballinderry pressure forced turnovers helping the Shamrock’s back level before Wilson and Martin won the game late on.
Ballinderry Scorers: Conleith Gilligan 0-5, James Bateson 1-1, Ryan Bell 0-3 and Daniel McKinless, Lee Martin and Raymond Wilson 0-1.
Lavey Scorers: Niall Toner 1-1, Anthony McGurk 0-3 (0-2 frees), Declan Hughes 0-2 (0-1 ‘45’), Cailean O’Boyle 0-2 frees and Damien Chivers 0-1.
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