Newbridge left needing to win final game after Slaughtneil defeat

O’Neill’s Derry SFC Round 6 

Slaughtneil 1-11

Newbridge 1-9 

Slaughtneil maintained their winning at home to Newbridge on Tuesday night. 

Mark Doran’s side set the tone early on and kicked on after Newbridge drew back on level terms early in the second half. 

The Emmet’s are guaranteed second spot and have a bye this weekend ahead of the quarter-finals. 

For Newbridge, they need to win at home to Magherafelt on Saturday evening (5.30pm), in the final round of games, to be guaranteed a spot in the last eight. 

A Steelstown win at Ballinderry and a Kilrea win over Loup – games played at the same time – mean Newbridge must win. It’s that simple. 

The Emmet’s held possession after winning the throw-in, showing the patience before Shane McGuigan kicked the opening point. 

Ruairí Ó Mianáin cracked home a 12th minute goal to give Slaughtneil a 1-3 to 0-1 lead. 

Newbridge were back in the game by half time when Callum McGrogan found the home net with five minutes to the break, making the score 1-5 to 1-3. 

Points from Callum McGrogan and Sean Young brought the sides level before Slaughtneil pushed on again. 

Substitute Eoin Mulholland, Christopher Bradley, Jerome and Sé McGuigan added scores to open a four-point lead on the way to a Slaughtneil win. 

Slaughtneil: Antóin McMullan; Conor McAllister, Karl McKaigue, Eamon Cassidy; Ruairí Ó Mianáin (1-0), Paul McNeill, Keelan Feeney; Brendan Rogers, Jack Cassidy (0-2); Meehaul McGrath; Christoper Bradley (0-3, 1f), Jerome McGuigan (0-1), Peter McCullagh; Shane McGuigan (0-3, 2 45), Sé McGuigan (0-1)
Subs: Eoin Mulholland (0-1) for M McGrath (38), Ronan Bradley for Sé McGuigan (55), Brendan McEldowney for P McCullagh (62) 

Newbridge: James Gribbin; Declan McKeever, Paudi McGrogan (0-1), Shane McGrogan; Mark McGrogan, Conor McGrogan, Conleth McGrogan (0-1); Conor Doherty (0-3f), Michael Bateson; Odhran McGlone; Callum McGrogan (1-2), Nathan Rocks, Sean Young (0-1); Conor McAteer, Jude Diamond (0-1)
Subs: Mark Doherty for J Diamond (37), Killian Burke for M Bateson (45), Peter McGrogan for S Young (48), Paddy McMullan for N Rocks (53) 

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy)