O’Neills Derry SFC semi-final: Magherafelt v Banagher (today, 6.30pm, Owenbeg)
EITHER way, a generation gap will be bridged in Owenbeg this evening. Magherafelt haven’t been in a county final since 1983, and Banagher haven’t been there since five years previous – when they lost to Magherafelt.
To put it quite bluntly, neither of them were expected to make it past the first round this summer. The Rossas were drawn with reigning champions Eoghan Rua, while Banagher faced Bellaghy off the back of a league record that read: Played 11, lost 11.
But the pair of them provided the upsets on the opening weekend, and while Magherafelt’s subsequent narrow win over Ballinascreen went to form, this evening’s opponents were at it again, shocking Enda McGinley’s Swatragh side.
For the side taken over mid-season by Charlie O’Kane and Mark Quigley, it’s been about simplicity and playing to their strengths.
They have two fliers in brothers Niall and Tiarnan Moore inside, they have Gavin O’Neill playing the football of his life at midfield, Mark Lynch patrolling things in the quarter-back role and a defence that has the pace to cope with most problems.
Magherafelt’s counter-attacking approach will provide them with the kind of test they haven’t yet had. Adrian Cush will be determined to protect his full-back line against Banagher’s pace inside, with midfielder Jared Monaghan dropping off to sweep.
Up front, they’ve a bit more brawn. Antone McElhone and Cormac Murphy are a bustling duo inside, while Shane Heavron’s left foot can be a deadly weapon. His brother Danny and Emmett McGuckin are coming at it from deeper positions.
Banagher have been playing with a remarkable confidence and freedom given how their league campaign went, but Magherafelt are the best structured side they’ll have come up against.
Without an alternative attacking plan, the Rossas could swallow them up and do enough on the break to edge through.
MEANWHILE, Glack will seek to end a 38-year wait for championship glory when they take on autumn regulars Drum in this afternoon’s Premier Electrics Derry JFC final (Celtic Park, 2pm).
The O’Connors start as favourites after a resounding 19-point win over Moneymore in the semi-final, where two early goals set them on their way.
Martin McGonigle and Niall McGowan have been at the heart of a powerful running game from their middle third. They will look to them against a more experienced Drum side.
This will be the St Colm’s club’s eighth final since 2006, and the likes of Kevin and Rory O’Reilly, Donal Brolly and James McCartney will look to harness that experience and cause an upset for their first title since 2012.
The McFeely Group Intermediate semi-finals also take place this weekend, with the county’s two oldest clubs, Foreglen and Claudy, fancied to reach the decider.
Claudy were impressive Division 1B winners in their first season under Emmett McKeever, and they’ll face a young up-and-coming Drumsurn side that will be looking to banish nightmares of semi-final performances that go all the way back to 2011. They will be hoping Derry U20 player Dara Rafferty wins his fitness battle after missing the quarter-final comeback win over Ballerin.
That game is tomorrow in Owenbeg (3pm), while this evening will see Castledawson’s new breed look for a statement win against a Foreglen side that’s been around the top of intermediate football for almost 15 years.
Between the five Duffy brothers and O’Connor clans – four of whom started up front against Doire Trasna – they will be expected to have enough to reach the decider.
