Owenbeg hosts Derry Hurling Championship double headers this weekend

Banagher v Swatragh (1pm, Sunday, Owenbeg)

Swatragh come into Owenbeg’s semi-final Sunday unbeaten and but Niall Ferris notching an equaliser for Kevin Lynch’s, they would have a 100 per cent record to their name.

The ‘Swa sidestepped Eoghan Rua and Na Magha with ease. Now it’s time for another test.

Banagher needed a strong finish to close the door on a Lavey fightback. They pulled clear late on against Ballinascreen. That was their two wins. Against Slaughtneil, they were the same as everyone else since 2013 – they came out on the wrong side.

Swatragh are the last team to get their hands on the Fr Collins Cup before Slaughtneil began their successful run.

Based on their performances - and the depth of their panel – many will argue the Davitt’s are beginning grow alongside their parish rivals.

Paul Gunning has made a return. Michael Kirkpatrick is the same. Add in PJ O’Connell who hurled with Cloney Gaels. James Friel, Sean Francis and Sean Martin Quinn are key players. Then you have the togetherness.

That’s the nut Banagher must crack on Sunday. And it’s well within their reach. They’ve a recent Ulster intermediate campaign that tells you what they can do.

Darragh Cartin is back from injury. Brothers Ruairi, Darragh and Oisin McCloskey bring the experience.

They know how to get the sliotar pinging in the right areas. Casting the minds back to the Lavey game, they also defended with grit when they needed to. They’ll need it this weekend.

The loser of Sunday heads down the intermediate route. The winner gets to dance at the top table.

When you glance down through the personnel, you get the sense of a game that’s going the distance. Both teams know each other inside out and will know exactly what’s at stake.

Calling it is tough. A proper toss of the coin encounter that will go all the way. It’s hard to see more than the puck of a ball separating them.

Top scorers: Banagher: Darragh Cartin 0-17, Ciaran Lynch 2-3, Darragh McCloskey 0-4, Callum O'Kane 0-4, Oisin McCloskey 1-1. Swatragh: Sean Martin Quinn 2-13, James Friel 0-12, Dominic Bradley 1-4, Fintan McGurk 2-1

CDP VERDICT: Swatragh

KEVIN LYNCH'S v SLAUGHTNEIL (3pm)

The biggest compliment you can pay Slaughtneil is the term that best describes them – a conveyor belt.

For all the success they’ve had, nothing stands still. Some players travel, some opt out but, more importantly, there is always a couple of minor players putting up their hand.

Chrissy and Karl McKaigue have been mainstays they’ve planned without. Meehaul McGrath is only back in the country. They’ve lost brothers Éanna and Seán Ó Caiside. Brian Cassidy didn’t return from his travel but brothers Eamon and Shea had stepped in.

Conor McAllister is back after injury and will have his hand up. Conor Coyle, Fionn McEldowney and Cahal McKaigue are pups who play like they’ve always been there.

Then take a look at the numbers. A combined 8-64 across three games will crack most teams.

There is one difference from the last five seasons Their semi-final opponents are Kevin Lynch’s. That will sharpen the focus even though Kevin Hinphey’s side haven’t pulled up many trees on the way to Sunday.

Conor Kelly and Odhran McKeever are key men missing but they’ve still an experienced core.

Mark Craig. Paddy Kelly. Thomas Brady. Richie Mullan. John Mullan. In Sean Kelly they’ve a goalkeeper with the outfield prowess to add an extra dimension.

Corey O’Reilly and Darragh McGilligan are important players with county experience. Then you’ve Niall Ferris who scored the point to keep them unbeaten when Swatragh threatened to squeeze clear.

That said, you have to go back to the 2018 semi-final to find the day when Kevin Lynch’s came closest to toppling Slaughtneil.

For the first time since 2014, the Emmet’s will step into the championship area without Michael McShane at the helm.

Former Armagh dual player Paul McCormack is the new man in the hotseat and he’ll have then favourites tag to contend with again.

Top scorers: Slaughtneil: Cormac O'Doherty 0-25, Shea Cassidy 2-7, Jack Cassidy 1-10, Gerald Bradley 4-1. Kevin Lynch’s: Richie Mullan 3-10, Niall Ferris 1-11, John Mullan 2-5

CDP VERDICT: Slaughtneil

Junior semi-finals (Saturday – Owenbeg)

Ballinascreen v Eoghan Rua (3pm)

One glance at this fixture and you feel there are two teams with little to separate themselves.

Eoghan Rua have never managed to break into the senior ranks. On the flip side, when they’ve emerged at intermediate or junior level, they’ve asked questions Ulster have struggled with.

That’s what makes the absence of goalkeeper Leo Passmore a loss. Midfielder and goal machine Niall Holly would be a huge addition but will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Colm McGoldrick has had his ongoing injuries problems.

Manager Kieran Lagan has walked the walk with many of these players. A warrior and he knows his hurling. Ciaran and Sean Leo McGoldrick are vital. Add in the Mooney brothers – Ruairí and Dara. You’ve Thomas Magee, Lorcan McMullen and Ballerin footballer Kosta Papachristopoulos. Imagine if they had them all.

Kevin Lynch's and Slaughtneil renew their rivalry this weekend.

For Ballinascreen, they’ve had a fortune of underage success back in the day but have not been able to harness it through to senior level.

Derry player Paul Cleary hit 1-12 over their last two games but it wasn’t enough to stop Banagher joining Slaughtneil in the senior mix.

Now that face a crossroads. They’ll be tipped to emerge on Saturday and a possible meeting with Lavey could give them an avenue to take a step into Ulster. That’s why Saturday is an important day. Like Lavey, their approach will tell a lot.

Top scorers: Ballinascreen: Paul Cleary 1-12, Reece McSorley 1-5, Eamon Conway 0-7. Coleraine: Kosta Papachristopoulos 1-8, Thomas Magee 0-5, Lorcan McMullen 1-2

CDP VERDICT: Ballinascreen

Lavey v Na Magha (5pm)

It’s 2011 since Lavey tasted the buzz of senior final day. That came 12 months after the former kingpins toasted the Fr Collins Cup in Gulladuff.

For the last few years, they missed out on the senior side of Derry hurling’s run in. Sometimes it has been scoring difference. This time they’ll rue a slow start against Banagher that left them knocking a door that didn’t open in the closing stages.

Away from the senior grade, Lavey have their house in order. The late Collie McGurk was among those who have their underage conveyor belt in operation again. They are three-in-a-row minor champions.

That’s where this junior campaign could kick in. That’s why Saturday is a decision day. Do they go for it?

Ryan Mulholland and Ryan McGill are key cogs. Segdae Melaugh and Aimon Duffin represent the young blood.

Na Magha have plied their trade in the Antrim league without converting it into progress on the Derry scene. They’ve had underage players knocking on the door of county squads. They’ve their own premised now.

The new national Hurling Development Committee should be asking them what they need for the long term.

For now, it’s about Saturday, but they’ll find Lavey too tough a nut to crack.

Top scorers: Lavey: Fintan Bradley 0-18, Ryan McGill 0-13, Segdae Melaugh 0-4, Aimon Duffin 1-1. Na Magha: Deaglan Foley 0-22, Keelan Doherty 0-3, Michael Lynch 0-3, Tim Rankin 1-0

CDP VERDICT: Lavey