Errigal Contracts Derry senior final

Swatragh 1-15 Bellaghy 0-11

WHEN Swatragh and Bellaghy lined out in Slaughtneil for the 1993 Derry senior semi-final, Swatragh were aiming for a 20^th successive title. Bellaghy stopped them in their tracks and went on to win the final and a 6^th title.

The Tones haven’t been back in a final until yesterday when they took on Swatragh once again in Slaughtneil. They fought hard from first to last whistle but never looked like repeating the feat of 33 years ago after Swatragh opened up a 1-8 to 0-6 interval lead with the last five points of the opening half.

Swatragh had stopped Slaughtneil’s ten in a row bid two seasons ago and, although they had lost to the Emmett’s this time last year, they were able to draw on that experience and keep the pressure on the Bellaghy throughout – and no better player to turn the screw than 17 years old Emma Quinn who landed ten frees and an 11^th point from play to earn the Player of the Match accolade.

Although Anna Cassidy registered a point for Bellaghy after 12 seconds, Quinn levelled almost immediately and, before the second minute had passed, Aoife McWilliams snapped at a half-chance for the only goal of the game.

But, with Anna Cassidy hitting the wings for the diagonal ball, Bellaghy bounced back from the set-back and by the 21^st minute had pulled level at 1-3 to 0-6, Orlaith Hull, Leah Cassidy and Grace Draine all on target from play with Hull adding two frees.

However Swatragh finished the half strongly by forcing a number of frees. Emma Quinn scored four of those and Shannon Doherty took a pass from Cáit Conway for another point and they led by five points at half-time.

Bellaghy’s start to the second half gave them hope – excellent points each from Draine and Hull inside two minutes. But they couldn’t build on those. It was back to a gap of five points with a Quinn free and a point from Conway before Hull and Quinn swopped frees towards the end of the third quarter.

There were goal chances at either end with a Hull free dropping short and cleared while Ellie Griffin denied Gráinne McAtamney at the other end.

Then with ten minutes to go, Quinn stretched the gap to seven points with her first from play. A 28^th title was in the bag and the focus could turn to recovery and a tilt with Clonduff in the Ulster semi-final on Saturday.

Swatragh: N McQuillan, E Conway, C Turner capt, SA Quinn, E McCartney, N Neely, N Quinn, D O’Kane, B McCullagh, C Conway 0-1, S Doherty 0-1, A McWilliams 1-1, MT McCullagh, G McAtamney 0-1, E Quinn 0-11, 10fs.

Subs: M McNicholl for MT McCullagh (35), D McGuckin for C Conway (50), C O’Loughlin for D McGuckin (55), R McAtamney for S Doherty (60+2)

Bellaghy: H Downey, E McErlean, R Cassidy, C McNally, E Doherty, E Griffin, A McFaul, R Downey 0-1f, G Draine 0-2, C Chambers, O Hull 0-6, 4fs, O McCartney, L Cassidy 0-1, A Cassidy 0-1, L Lennon.

Subs: C O’Hagan for A McFaul (bs 35-39), C O’Hagan for C McNally (41), G Diamond for G Draine (55)

Referee : C Hickson (Ballinascreen)