'We knew what we had to do' - Bellaghy captain Karl McCallion

It may have been just a group game in Swatragh on Sunday but with their continued participation in the O’Neill’s Senior Football championship on the line, Bellaghy turned in their best performance of the year to snatch that all-important fourth spot. The prize is a quarter-final clash with Newbridge but for Swatragh it is the exit gates.

The sides were level at the break but Bellaghy turned on the style after the resumption to run out 1-17 to 2-8 winners; a result and a performance that delighted their captain Karl McCallion.

“We knew coming here what we had to do, it was win and get the two points or our year was over, and we are delighted to have done that,” said McCallion.

“Swatragh are a very good team, they have got the better of us this last two or three years so we knew how tough this was going to be. In previous games we have not taken our chances so we needed to take our chances today and we did that.

“It is all about getting the scores on the board and the lads upfront stood up an delivered when they had too.

The second quarter turned this game in the Tones favour as they opened up a six point advantage outscoring the Swatragh lads 1-5 to 0-2, Kealan Friel flicking in the all-important goal.

Bellaghy came in on the back of three straight defeats to Glen, Dungiven and Slaughtneil with just the one win in their opener against Kilrea. They had a point to prove, particularly after their display last weekend.

“We expected to win those games and not to be in this position coming here but we didn’t so it put us under pressure. Now we have a quarter-final against Newbridge. We are a young side so the more games we get the better. Really looking forward to the next one. Had we not won today we were out and had to wait another year so happy to be be still in the championship,” added McCallion.

Bellaghy completed the Group A teams making the last eight as Slaughtneil, Glen and Dungiven had already progressed.

In Group B it was a nail-biting final day and the big winners were Ballinascreen as they pipped Loup for that all-important final spot on scoring difference. The Screen beating Newbridge and with Loup losing to Magherafelt and Lavey beating Steelstown it meant they advanced to the knockout stages along with Newbridge, Magherafelt and Lavey from Group B.

Dejected Swatragh players at the final whistle of Sunday's game.

Meanwhile the quarter finals of the Intermediate championship were confirmed and are as follows: Castledawson v Faughanvale, Foreglen v Drumsurn, Eoghan Rua v Banagher and Ballinderry v Glenullin.

The junior quarter finals took place over the weekend with the semi final lines ups as follows: Craigbane v Ballerin and Lissan v Ballymaguigan.

O’Neills Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals

Saturday 6 October - Glen v Lavey; Newbridge v Bellaghy

Sunday 7 October - Slaughtneil v Ballinascreen; Magherafelt v Dungiven