skip to main content

Glen overcome sluggish start to seal three-in-a-row in the Derry SFC

Glen captain Connor Carville lifts Derry SFC title
Glen captain Connor Carville lifts Derry SFC title

Glen 1-13 O'Donovan Rossa 0-07

Glen secured a hat-trick of Derry senior football titles after a dominant second half display against Magherafelt in front of 5,360 fans in Celtic Park on Sunday evening.

Malachy O'Rourke's men were off the pace in the opening half but managed to ensure parity at the break before kicking on with a Cathall Mulholland goal two minutes into the second period.

From there, the Watty's never looked back, easing away from Magherafelt to come home with plenty to spare.

Magherafelt couldn't quite replicate the intensity of their first 30 minutes but will look back on the first half loss to injury of Derry keeper Odhran Lynch as a key moment.

O'Rourke's men, going for a third Derry senior title in succession, started brightly with a lovely long range point from county man Ciaran McFaul but Magherafelt were level within four minutes through a Shea McGuckin free.

Paddy McLarnon is tackled by Conor Glass and Emmett Bradley

Again, Glen hit the front through a Eunan Mulholland point and while Cormac Murphy this time replied for Damian Barton's team, they had Conall Herron to thank for the ball not being in the back of their net after a contender for tackle of this or any other championship.

And the longer the half wore on, the more significant this goal-saving tackle looked as Magherafelt settled well to forge a three point lead thanks to scores from All Star nominee Eoin McEvoy, a free from Shane Heavron and a lovely solo effort from Paddy McLarnon.

But, in between, Lynch, pulled up with what appeared a hamstring injury and they missed his contribution.

Indeed the break in play had allowed Glen to regroup and three scores without replay meant the sides would go into half-time level.

It was evenly poised, but just as they had in the semi-final against Slaughtneil, Watty Graham's flew out of the traps at the start of the second period, hitting 1-01 inside two minutes to take charge.

First, Michael Warnock found Emmett Bradley who pointed before, seconds later, a goalmouth scramble broke perfectly for Cathal Mulholland to gleefully roll home for a 1-05 to 0-5 lead.

Conor Glass and Shane Heavron swapped scores before Glen keeper Connlan Bradley went for a stroll that ended with him splitting the Magherafelt posts for a 1-10 to 0-07 with nine minutes to go.

It was a Glen mountain Magherafelt were never going to scale.

As if to stress the gulf between the teams in the second half, Connor Carville came out of defence to join the scoring the party, Jack Doherty splitting the posts off the outside of his right boot, becoming the tenth starting player to score for the victors.

Cathal Mulholland and Stevie O'Hara celebrate a third Derry title in a row

It summed up a brilliant second half from the champions who can now look forward to an Ulster date against Antrim champions Cargin.

Glen: Connlan Bradley (0-01), Michael Warnock, Ryan Dougan, Connor Carville (0-01), Eunan Mulholland (0-03), Ciaran McFaul (0-01), Cathal Mulholland (1-00), Conor Glass (0-01), Emmett Bradley (0-02, 1f), Ethan Doherty, Jack Doherty (0-01), Conor Convery, Danny McDermott, Danny Tallon (0-01, 1f), Conleth McGuckian (0-01).

Subs: Tiarnan Flanagan for C Mulholland, 35mins; Jody McDermott for C Convery, 47mins; Stevie O'Hara for D Tallon, 59mins.

Magherafelt: Odhran Lynch, Simon McErlain, Johnny McErlain, Guiseppe Lupari, Conor McCluskey, Eoin McEvoy (0-01), Conall Heron, Danny Heavron, Dan Higgins, Shea McGuckin (0-02, 2f), Ryan Lennox, Paddy McLarnon (0-01), Cormac Murphy (0-01), Shane Heavron (0-02, 2f), Ronan Walls.

Subs: Conor McLarnon for E Lynch (inj), 25mins; Conor Kearns for R Walls, 36mins; James Murray for S McGuckin, 47mins; Emmett McGuckin for R Lennox, 55mins; Fergal Duffin for G Lupari, 56mins;

Referee: Benny Quinn

Read Next