O'Neills Derry SFC quarter-final
Slaughtneil 1-10 Bellaghy1-8
NO matter who they would have been paired with in the semi-finals Slaughtneil boss
[ Mark DoranOpens in new window ]
’s words were always going to hold true: “That performance definitely won’t do next week.”
That may often be a managerial cliché, wheeled out whatever the nature of the display, but on this occasion it was an honest, accurate assessment from the Longstone man as his side struggled to see off a
[ BellaghyOpens in new window ]
team who defended in full depth and then broke with searing pace.
Indeed that latter quality, from Declan Cassidy, created the Tones’ goal for Oisin McErlean, although it was still a fierce finish from the wing-forward, drawing the sides level at 1-8 apiece in the 57th minute.
Slaughtneil had only been behind once, from the opening score, and led almost throughout after they netted early on through Meehaul McGrath, albeit in a tepid, turgid game that remained tense and tight.
Yet a shock of sorts seemed on the cards at that stage. Instead, the Emmet’s experience shone through the gloom and long-serving forward Christopher ‘Sammy’ Bradley converted a free – won by Shane McGuigan – and then kicked the ‘insurance point’ with the hour almost up to send Slaughtneil through to the semi-finals.
“The one pleasing thing was that when they got their goal, a serious lift for Bellaghy, we showed brilliant character to go and kick the next two points,” said Doran.
Visually this was reminiscent of the previous night’s Rugby World Cup clash between England and Samoa, but with the whites trying to break down the blues on this occasion.
In contrast, though, this encounter exhibited very little intensity or physicality, certainly after a bright beginning, with the referee not forced to reach for his cards at any stage of the proceedings.
The start was, unfortunately, a false dawn. Slaughtneil almost netted after a minute when a Shane McGuigan ball came back off the upright and was gathered by Paul McNeill, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Peter Stuart.
It was Bellaghy who did open the scoring, through Declan Cassidy, but the Emmet’s responded in style in the fifth minute. A chain of passes ended with McNeill finding Keelan Feeney, who hand-passed through and McGrath took his goal superbly, finishing low after a neat side-step.
Slaughtneil were bossing possession, but with Bellaghy content to sit deep en masse the favourites were struggling to break down their opponents.
The Blues kept the scoreboard ticking over, but the P Cassidy getting on the score-sheet for the Tones was midfielder Peter, from play and frees, rather than county forward Paul; the latter was watched by various Slaughtneil men and looked rather lost over on the left flank.
Similarly, the Emmet’s Derry stars, Shane McGuigan and Brendan Rogers, were making little impact, although the latter was, as ever, multi-tasking – watching Paul Cassidy for a time, then dropping to full-back when Peter Cassidy pushed up shortly before the break.
Slaughtneil’s first point came midway through the half, clipped inside the near upright by Cormac O’Doherty, and he added an identical score eight minutes later.
Still, Bellaghy equalised twice, both times from frees, via Peter Cassidy and goalkeeper Stuart, before yet another P Cassidy, Slaughtneil’s Paudie ‘Tad’, sent them in ahead with a fisted effort, 1-3 to 0-5.
The entertainment level barely rose after the teams turned around, the sole talking point coming when the referee decided on a hop ball after blowing his whistle when McNeill clearly caught as legitimate attacking mark.
Slaughtneil’s big names at last got on the score-sheet, two Rogers points from play sandwiching a free from Shane, and they looked to be stretching away sufficiently.
Bellaghy kept themselves in contention with points from two half-backs, Odhran Quinn and Conleth McShane – and then they scored that great goal, Declan Cassidy streaking through to supply McErlean, who lashed high past Antoin McMullan’s right hand.
Tied at 1-8 apiece, only the third time that the teams were on a par since the first throw-in, any outcome seemed possible, but it was Slaughtneil who stepped up, and ‘Sammy’ Bradley in particular.
“When we needed the scores, we found them, although we’ll need to work on our finishing,” acknowledged Doran.
“We were a bit flat, lethargic. Bellaghy brought a serious challenge…Before today I’d have taken a one-point win – but we’ve got a lot of improving to do.”
Bellaghy: P Stuart (0-2 frees); L Brady, K McCallion, J Diamond; D Brown, O Quinn (0-1), C McShane (0-1); K Friel, Peter Cassidy (0-3, 0-2 frees); O McErlain (1-0), D Cassidy (0-1), Paul Cassidy; C Diamond, E Brown, C Milne.
Substitutes: O McClafferty for D Brown (46); D Gallagher for E Brown (53); M McClenaghan for Milne (58).
Slaughtneil: A McMullan; Conor McAllister, C McKaigue, K McKaigue; R O Mianain (0-1), P McNeill, K Feeney; B Rogers (0-2), Padraig Cassidy (0-1); C Bradley (0-3, 0-2 frees), J McGuigan, P McCullagh; M McGrath (1-0), Shane McGuigan (0-1 free), C O’Doherty (0-2).
Substitutes: E Mulholland for McCullagh (36); E Cassidy for Feeney (50); J Cassidy for McGrath (53).
Referee: Martin McErlane (Ballinderry).
