Super Slaughtneil clinch 10th successive Derry title

SLAUGHTNEIL confirmed their status as kingpins of Derry hurling with their 10th successive title yesterday. Shane McGuigan was one of the stars as the hot favourites had to come from behind at half-time, Kevin Lynch’s leading by 0-6 to 0-5. The champions showed all their class when needed, however, and went up through the gears to power home by 2-18 to 1-8 at Owenbeg.

With Jerome McGuigan and Brendan Rogers supplying the goals, Slaughtneil scored 2-7 without reply between the 42nd and 60th minutes, and can now look forward to an Ulster semi-final against the Down champions in November.

A 10-point haul from man-of-the-match James Burke helped Naas to a 0-20 to 012 victory over Maynooth in the Kildare hurling final, sealing a four-in-a-row.

The reigning All-Ireland intermediate champions were pushed all the way in a close first half and only led by three, 0-9 to 0-6, but cut loose in the second half to win convincingly.

In the Wicklow final, Bray Emmets and Glenealy couldn’t be separated and will have to do it all again after the match finished 0-16 apiece.

In Cork, it will be an all-city final when Blackrock meet St Finbarr’s, the latter sealing a spot in the decider for the first time since 1993.

Goals from Brian Hayes and Ben Cunningham helped them on their way as they surged into an early 10 point lead and eventually won 2-25 to 0-20. Blackrock clinched their place in the final by beating Erin’s Own 3-21 to 0-21.

The gap was only a point at half-time, Blackrock leading by 0-12 to 0-11, before the second-half goal rush.

Tadhg Deasy fired in the crucial first goal before Michael O’Halloran added another, a lovely first-time pull.

Robbie O’Flynn was sending points over from all angles for Erin’s Own, only for Robbie Cotter to settle the game with his side’s third goal.