Lavey victory sets up Newbridge quarterfinal this weekend

O’Neill’s Derry SFC Round 7  

Lavey 2-16

Swatragh 1-10 

Lavey bounced back from their defeat to Dungiven with a stylish performance at home to Swatragh on Sunday afternoon. 

The victory secured top spot and a quarter-final meeting with Newbridge on Saturday (Owenbeg, 4pm). 

Liam Murphy started where he finished off against Dungiven with the opening point before Lorcan McWilliams replied for the ‘Swa. 

Conor Mulholland had a shot blocked and Declan Hughes saw a palmed effort come off the crossbar as Lavey settled well. 

It was end to end football with the sides level five times before Lavey’s first goal. 

A Jack Scullion free came down off the post and Niall Toner pounced to score with ‘McGurk allowed the shot to creep in at the post. 

Lorcan McWilliams, who hit five points in all, kept Swatragh in touch. 

The game took another turn early in the second half. A Conor McAtamney curler on top of Anton Tohill was convincingly punched clear by ‘keeper Scullion. It was a dangerous. 

Lavey’s quick counterattack was seconds later finished by Fintan Bradley for a 1-8 to 0-7 lead after 34 minutes. 

Ryan Mulholland kicked four second half points as Lavey pulled clear but they needed a smart Scullion save to deny Francis Kearney. 

Niall Toner slotted home a late penalty before Anton Tohill flicked to the net with the last action of the game. 

Lavey: Jack Scullion; Aidan Toner, Conor Mulholland, Jamie Duggan (0-2); Ryan Mulholland (0-4), Eamon McGill (0-1), Segdae Melaugh; Kevin O’Neill, Rory McGill; Fintan Bradley (0-1), Niall Toner (2-4, 1 pen, 3f), Patrick McGurk (0-1); Liam Murphy (0-2), Declan Hughes (0-1), Ciaran Hendry  

Subs: James McGurk for S Melaugh (38), Cailean O’Boyle for L Murphy (57), Peter Rafferty for K O’Neill (57), Naithan Scullion for A Toner (57), Ryan Farren for J Duggan (58) 

Swatragh: Rory McGurk; Thomas McKeagney, Sean Martin Quinn, Tiarnán Walsh; Dominic Bradley, Sean Francis Quinn, Niall Coyle; Francis Kearney (0-1), Conor McAtamney (0-2); Niall McAtamney, Patrick Kearney (0-1), James Friel; Lorcan McWilliams (0-5, 2f), Anton Tohill (1-1), Sean Kearney
Subs: Cahal Murray for J Friel (39), Paul McAtamney for S Kearney (41), James Kearney for N McAtamney (44), Liam Kearney for D Bradley (52), Sean Kearney or T McKeagney (59) 

Referee: Damien Harkin (Slaughtmanus)