Derry Football Championships: Magherafelt begin their defence

Oak Leaf championship races begins

Senior Championship Group A

The Loup v Bellaghy

Saturday, Magherafelt, 6.30pm

This game is due to be broadcast on the County’s WeAreDerry channel, so there’s no excuse not to miss this south Derry clash.

Paddy Bradley’s Loup team, which he takes along with former Antrim star Kevin Brady, will take on a Bellaghy team who have John McKeever as manager.

Last year the Loup had an early exit against eventual finalists Glen. Bellaghy were stunned by Banagher 3-12 to 3-9. Bellaghy’s young guns are a year older and wiser, though they will look to experience of Eoghan Brown, Joey McNally, Declan Brown and Peter Cassidy. Paddy Bradley has had a good record with Newbridge, but he’s missing a few important players.

Verdict: Bellaghy

Senior Championship Group A

Newbridge v Foreglen

Sunday, Glen, 6.30pm

Last year’s Intermediate champions Foreglen are up in senior football and they get to start their campaign against a team they are familiar with in Newbridge. These two clubs met in the 2007 Intermediate final. But Newbridge were more recently down at that level in 2017.

Killian Conlan is in charge of Newbridge this year, and the former assistant Derry boss should have the Sean O’Leary’s in good shape.

Foreglen know how to compete having won the 2019 Intermediate title, and the 2013 trophy as well. Newbridge have a few very good county players though in Padraig McGrogan and Conor Doherty.

Verdict: Newbridge

Senior Championship Group B

Sleacht Néill v Kilrea

Saturday, Slaughtneil, 4pm

Kilrea have never won a senior championship, and their last appearance in the final was in 2011 when they lost to Ballinderry.

Last year’s experience was short lived as they lost to Ballinascreen in the opener.

Declan Bradley is over them this year and hopes to change their fortunes with a tough opener.

Sleacht Néill may not have won the senior championship since 2017, but they are still one of the most feared teams in the county. Former forward Paul Bradley is manager this hear and he has former Tyrone player Gavin Devlin in along with him, not to mention stalwart Padraig Kelly.

Sleacht Néill lost to Glen in last year’s semi-final. A seismic defeat for the club as it was by their neighbours.

Verdict: Sleacht Néill

Senior Championship Group B

Eoghan Rua v Lavey

Saturday, Coleraine, 4pm

Coleraine were champions in 2018, ending Sleacht Neill’s run of wins at four.

Sean McGoldrick remains in the hot seat but the club are carrying a spate of injuriees this year and it seems like a big ask for them to get back to the final. Liam McGoldrick, Ruairi Mooney, Declan Mullan and Ciaran Mullan are all on the long term injured list. Paul Daly and Barry McGoldrick are on the short-term injured. They do have a couple of new recruits in Lorcan McMullan, Aidan McGonagle and Dara Mooney.

Lavey won the minor championship last year. Their senior footballers reached the decider in 2018. So there is potential there.

Verdict: Lavey

Senior Football Championship Group C

Glen v Banagher

Saturday, Watty Graham Park, 4pm

After Glen beat Sleacht Néill in last year’s championship some pundits in the GL office felt that the Watties had the hard work done.

That’s what Magherafelt were hoping that the Glen lads were thinking, and they ambushed them in the final. It was a lesson for Glen, and it seems as though they have been learning lessons as each year passes. Banagher had a tricky year last season as they had some management changes. They weren’t expected to beat Bellaghy but they did so, and they backed that up with a win against Swatragh. They’ll put up another good show this weekend.

Verdict: Glen

Senior Football Championship Group C

Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa v Ballinderry

Sunday, Magherafelt, 4pm

Adrian Cush led Magherafelt to a glorious county title last year. The memories of that great day when they downed Glen will live long in the memory. Danny Heavron’s emotional speech in the aftermath with Thomas Niblock shown on BBC tugged the heartstrings. But the club must put that in the past and attempt to defend their title. After Sleacht Néill’s dominace of the championship, one might forget that Magherafelt had been very competitive in the league for a good few years before 2019. In Adrian Cush they had a manager who made the team believe they could win. Ballinderry have called upon one of their own sons to take the club as Niall Conway takes over the team along with brother James and Michael Conlan. Ballinderry retain some classy players like Ryan Bell, but they’ve lost some stars in recent years. They are a team in transition, but they have tradition, and a manager who knows how to win.

Verdict: Magherafelt.

Senior Football Championship Group D

Ballinascreen v Claudy

Saturday, Ballinascreen, 4pm

Last year’s beaten Intermediate Championship finalists Claudy arrive at senior championship football. Emmett McKeever is the man at the helm, and the club are hoping that he can put on a good show as they have great ambitions of being a senior club for some time. Ballinascreen are a team who revel in championship football, though they have not won a senior title since 1973. They were finalists in 2013 and 2017. Liam Bradley returns as manager and has added Ciaran McElroy to his back room team.

Verdict: Ballinascreen

Senior Football Championshpi Group D

Swatragh v Dungiven

Swatragh, Davitt Park, 4pm

Dungiven suffered a disappointing relegation last year, and they are trying to bounce back from that this year. Chairman Kieran McKeever told Gaelic Life that the club has seen a huge turn out for participation at senior level. New manager Stephen O’Neill must now try to deliver results. They have a difficult test against Swatragh. The Michael Davitts have some fine young players. Last year Swatragh opened with a win against Glenullin but then were stunned by Banagher. After having watched their neighbours Sleacht Néill win four titles in a row, and Glen reach the decider in 2019, Swatragh have plenty of motivation this year.

Last year Tyrone man Adrian Cush led Magherafelt to the county title, Swatragh have Enda McGinley and Stephen Quinn at the helm and they hope they can do the same.

Verdict: Swatragh

Intermediate Championship Group A

Limavady v Glack

Saturday, Faughanvale, 2pm

Limavady won the Junior championship in 2016, beating Magilligan by 1-11 to 1-9 in the final.

They were promoted to the Intermediate championship last year, and they begin their campaign with a meeting with Glack.

Last year Glack beat Drum in the junior Championship final. As neighbours in north Derry the two clubs will be familiar with each other which should add excitement.

Verdict: Limavady

Intermediate Championship Group A

Glenullin v Steelstown

Sunday, Dungiven, 2pm

Here are two teams who have dropped down from senior football in recent years.

Glenullin were Senior Champions in 2007 but have suffered a slide in form over the past decade.

Steelstown were regarded as one of the stronger teams from Derry city, but were not able to stay at the top tier.

They have reached the Intermediate Championship final twice in the past 11 years, in 2016 and 2010. Last year they lost to Claudy after two games in the Intermediate championship, when Claudy needed four goals to beat the Derry city men (4-9 to 0-19).

Verdict: Steelstown

Intermediate Championship Group B

Faughanvale v Na Piarsaigh Doire Trasna

Sunday, John McLaughlin Park, 4pm

Faughanvale were Intermediate Championship finalists three years ago, when they lost to Newbridge. Last year they were drawn against eventual champions Foreglen in the first round. The two teams met again in the semi-final, and Faughanvale took them to a draw. Those results make Faughanvale a very interesting prospect. Doire Trasna had lost to Foreglen in the quarter-final.

Verdict: Faughanvale

Intermediate Championship Group C

St Malachy’s Castledawson v Slaughtmanus

Saturday, Castledawson, 4pm

Castledawson have won the Derry Intermediate championship three times since 2010. They were the 2010 champions, and they lifted the trophy again in 2014 and again in 2016 when they beat Steelstown. Last year they lost out to Foreglen in the semi-final. Foreglen went on to beat Claudy in the final.

Slaughtmanus haven’t won an Intermediate Championship title since 1988.

They were disappointing last year, particularly in their defeat to Drumsurn.

Verdict: Castledawson

Intermediate Championship Group C

Greenlough v Ballymaguigan

Saturday, Greenlough, 4pm

Greenlough against Ballymaguigan met in the Intermediate championship final in 2009 when the latter side won 2-8 to 0-12. Since then Greenlough were champions in 2015 while Ballymaguigan were finalists in 2018 when they lost to Banagher.

Greenlough played senior championship football last year, so they will be expected to do well at intermediate level this year.

Verdict: Greenlough

Junior Championship round up

Craigbane play Magilligan on Friday night (Banagher, 7.30pm). Craigbane were 2011 intermediate football champions, so dropping down to this level of football will be regarded as something of a step backwards.

Magilligan are much more at home at this level, and won the junior title most recently in 2016.

Craigbane and Magilligan are both in group A. Desertmartin and Moneymore are also in Group A, and they also clash on Friday night (Loup, 7.30pm).

Moneymore were last Junior champions in 2014, Desertmartin were relegated last year and might be feeling some pressure.

By Ronan Scott