Ballinderry and Rossa serve up an early Derry dual shock
THE first round of the Derry senior football championship provided its quota of shocks with Banagher, who did not win a match in the league this year, accounting for Bellaghy and O’Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt sending reigning title-holders Eoghan Rua tumbling out of the competition.
Banagher were full value for their 3-12 to 3-9 success against a youthful Bellaghy side with their goals coming from Tiernan Moore, Ciaran Lynch and Micheal Anderson. Bellaghy kept in touch for the greater part of the contest but with former Derry ace Mark Lynch outstanding , Banagher lasted the course to win. Lynch, who has played at midfield and attack in the past, underpinned the Banagher defence on this occasion deployed his vast experience to good effect in thwarting the Bellaghy attack on occasions.
If Lynch showed that he has none of his energy and drive, it was Emmett McGuckin who provided the telling blow which helped O’Donovan Rossa stun champions Coleraine when he fired in the all-important goal in his team’s narrow 1-8 to 0-10 win.
It was a late, late point from Cormac Murphy that helped to book O’Donovan Rossa’s place in the quarter-finals while Niall Holly, who has also worn the colours of Derry in the past, did his best to stoke up Coleraine’s resistance.
There may have been very little between the sides at the finish but it was quite the opposite when Ballinderry vanquished hapless Dungiven by 6-18 to 1-14 with Ryan Bell very much to the fore while Slaughtneil, champions from 2014 to 2017 inclusive, had to put on a late spurt to overcome Newbridge by 2-11 to1-6.
Former Tyrone All-Ireland winner Enda McGinley also had cause for satisfaction when his Swatragh side romped to a handsome 3-12 to 0-10 win over Glenullin yesterday after they had led by 2-5 to 0-5 at half-time.
No surprises in the Tyrone championship, though. Killyclogher may have been stretched by Donaghmore but they got over the line by 2-13 to 1-13 with Simon O’Neill and Nathan Donnelly grabbing their goals and Shea Hamill striking Donaghmore’s goal.
Clonoe proved too strong for Moy winning by 1-17 to 0-9 with Ryan McCabe landing their goal and Daryl McNulty, Colm Doris, Fintan McClure and Paul Coney among those sharing in their points blitz.
Ex-Tyrone star Sean Cavanagh scored five points for Moy who were without Michael Conroy and Colm Cavanagh because of injuries.
Trillick had little difficulty in beating Dromore by 4-12 to 0-7 with James Garrity (2), Rory Brennan and Daire Gallagher getting their goals while the Donnelly brothers Mattie and Richie and Lee Brennan were also prominent.
In the Antrim senior football championship, the McCann brothers Michael (0-8) and Tomas (0-3) shared 11 points in reigning champions’ Cargin’s 1-14 to 0-12 win over Rossa while C J McGourty scored 1-7 for St Gall’s in their 1-16 to 1-9 win over St Mary’s, Aghagallon for whom Adam Loughran scored 1-5.
Crossmaglen Rangers, powered by the O’Neill brothers Oisin and Rian, overcame Ballymacnab in the Armagh championship by 3-15 to 2-12 while Silverbridge got the better of Armagh Harps by 1-19 to 4-8.
Oisin scored one of the Rangers’ three goals the others coming from Mel Boyce and impressive substitute Kyle Carragher while Jack Grugan (penalty) and Gavin McParland scored Ballymacnab’s goals.
Pearse Og, meanwhile, beat Cullaville by 4-18 to 2-12.
Maghery’s 4-11 to 0-8 victory over Dromintee hinted at their determination to reclaim the title they won in 2016 while Madden were good value for their 1-16 to 1-11 win over Annaghmore.
Meanwhile, Oisin Gallen, Darren O’Leary and Martin O’Reilly were very much to the fore in Sean MacCumhaills 5-14 to 1-18 win over Dungloe in the Donegal championship while Milford overcame Four Masters by 0-14 to 0-10.