Derry Senior Football Championship
GROUP A
Lavey v Kilrea (Saturday, 2pm, Lavey); Bellaghy v Dungiven (Saturday, 4.30pm, Bellaghy)
Niall Toner and Matthew Downey were the key cogs in Lavey’s comfortable win over Bellaghy.
Toner’s pace gave them an outlet alongside Declan Hughes up front, with Downey having a hand in everything did after coming on at half time.
Eamon McGill and Ryan Mulholland looked to kick the ball when any pockets of space appeared in attack.
Kilrea had Setanta McLaughlin sent off after 20 minutes before being bit for three goals inside four minutes against a rampant Dungiven.
Larry Kielt kicked three points after coming on as a sub and should start this week. They will be hoping for a greater return from Paddy Quigg if they are to trouble a well-marshalled Lavey defence.
Lavey are among the contenders for the John McLaughlin Cup and should take another step towards topping the group.
A energetic Dungiven hit 4-13 with only Cahir Higgins, Niall McGonagle and Conor Murphy among their scorers against Kilrea, but they’ll face a different task against a Damian Cassidy’s Bellaghy.
Like Lavey, they protected their middle last weekend and will have blot out the space in front of Higgins.
An intriguing game in prospect. The Tones have it all do to, but home advantage may tip the scales if Damon Gallagher, Paul Cassidy and Eoghan Brown can find space in the dangerzone.
GROUP B
Slaughtneil v Newbridge (Saturday, Owenbeg, 6.30pm)
SLAUGHTNEIL and Newbridge come into tonight’s Group B clash on the back of comfortable wins.
The game, streamed live by Derry GAA, could well decide who tops the group ahead of the knock-out stages.
Shane McGuigan and Christopher Bradley scored a combined 2-12 for Paul Bradley’s side in their hammering of Steelstown last weekend.
They started without Brendan Rogers, Meehaul McGrath, Cormac O’Doherty and Sean Cassidy from their 2020 winning team.
With a hectic schedule of games coming down the track, it’s unlikely any will be risked ahead of the business end, with an operation likely to keep Padraig Cassidy out of the plans.
Chrissy McKaigue started at full-back with his brother Karl at number six in a team that had two players from their recent U19 winning team.
Ruairi Ó Mianáin and Peter McCullagh saw championship action for the first time, but tonight will be a sterner test.
Paudi McGrogan and Conor Doherty were at the heart of Derry’s Ulster championship winning summer, carrying that form into last week’s comfortable win over Ballinderry.
Manager Niall Conway could task McGrogan or his older brother Conor to look after Shane McGuigan in the key battle.
Mark Doherty and Mark McGrogan both found the net against the Shamrocks, but it was Conor McAteer who kicked half a dozen points and could have Paul McNeill for company.
The experienced Michael Bateson and newcomer Shane McGrogan are also key players for the ‘Bridge, but Slaughtneil’s experience will see them tipped for victory.
GROUP C
Loup v Ballinascreen (Saturday, Glen), 3.30pm)
Coleraine v Magherafelt (Sunday, 6.30pm, Owenbeg)
Both teams head into this afternoon’s encounter keen to get their season back on track.
Caolan and Ciaran Devlin notched all of Loup’s tally against Magherafelt. Aaron Bradley and Ronan Murphy are the likely to set to look after one of them.
There are likely returns for Ballinascreen’s Marty Bradley and Paddy Coney for Loup.
If ‘Screen can get enough from JP Devlin, Noel Rafferty and Benny Heron in attack, they could come through.
Tomorrow evening’s clash of the 2018 and 2019 champions could go a long way to deciding top spot in the group.
Damian Barton and Brian McGuckin’s Magherafelt had Conor Kearns, Dan Higgins and Paddy McLarnon in fine form in their win over Loup.
On paper, this looks the tightest group, with the winner in pole position to a handier draw in the knock-out stages.
With Barry McGoldrick sweeping from goals, it forced a reshuffle that saw Niall Holly at full back and Colm McGoldrick out at midfield.
Lorcan McMullen’s early goal saw Coleraine on the winning track last weekend, but sweeper Joe Keenan will have the job of shutting down the space for the goals Eoghan Rua have based their championship successes on.
It took extra time before Coleraine dumped Magherafelt out last season and there won’t be much between the teams this time, with Rossa tipped to edge it.
GROUP D
Swatragh v Claudy (Sunday, 3.30pm, Swatragh)
Glen v Banagher (Sunday, 5pm, Glen)
Swatragh entertain Claudy on the back of a comfortable win over Banagher.
The impressive Brian Diamond and the McWilliams twins – Oisin and Lorcan – found the net, but they could be without Sean Kearney who was forced off injured.
With Anton Tohill at midfield with Niall McAtamney, the latter’s brother Conor was at full back. His tussle with the evergreen Marty Donaghy will have a big say, with Tiarnán Walsh needing a big game to keep tabs on Oran Armstrong.
There was nothing between the teams when they met last season in the group stages, but Swatragh should come through this one.
Glen were comfortable in Claudy last weekend and will be heavily fancied to back it up.
Malachy O’Rourke could use the game to get some minutes into Connor Carville on his way back from in injury and it’ll be another game for Ryan Dougan after missing much of the season on his travels.
Banagher had former Derry star Mark Lynch in goals last weekend after a knee injury looks to have ended Daryl McDermott’s season.
Tiarnán Moore has been the shining light of Banagher’s attack in recent seasons, but they’ll need the goal threat of their magical championship summer of 2019 if they are to lay a glove on the champions.
-ends-