McGuckian goal paves the way for Glen

Glen 1-17 ... Banagher 0-14

Watty Grahams Glen advanced to the round 2A of this year’s Derry Senior football championship after they saw off the brave challenge of St Mary’s Banagher by six-points.

Underdogs Banagher made a good fist of it, but once Johnny McGuckian found the back of the Banagher net in the 12th minute, the result was never in doubt.

Glen who are aiming for a fifth consecutive county final appearance held all the aces with the Doherty brothers Jack and Ethan in particular in outstanding form.

Ethan finished with 0-5 to his name as he made full advantage of the new found space that the new rule enhancements have brought. He was closely challenge to the Player of the Match gong by his older sibling Jack.

Jack, lining out at midfield also produced a performance full of endeavour and enterprise. Finishing with 0-2 to his name, Doherty who has previously been involved with county squads gave the watching Ciaran Meenagh plenty of food for thought with his display.

But it wasn’t all good news for Glen. After being only in a position to name a matchday squad of 22 players, Conor Carville and Ciaran McFaul were the latest names to add to the Glen lengthy injury list. Rory Kavanagh now faces an anxious two weeks as he tries to whittle down a casualty list that also includes Emmett Bradley.

Despite being written-off as no hoper’s pre-match, division 2 Banagher gave a good account for themselves. But in the end, there was an over-reliance on Tiarnan Moore for scores.

Moore contributed 0-10 of Banagher’s total including three two-pointers as the St Mary’s failed to build on a promising start.

Showing no ill effects from Wednesday’s play-off defeat to Ballinderry, Banagher raced into a two-point lead as early as the 4th minute thanks to efforts from Callum O’Kane and Peter Hagan.

At the other end Glen were failing to make the most of what came their way and for a few minutes, there was the sniff of an upset in the hot summer sun.

But once Jack Doherty finally worked the scoreboard for Glen, the Watty Graham’s had little difficulty settling into their groove.

A Stevie O’Hara free was quickly followed by a Conor Convery score before the games defining score arrived just short of the quarter hour mark.

Danny Tallon won a Banagher kick-out inside the two-point arc and played Johnny McGuckian who finished emphatically to the roof of the Banagher net.

With the Doherty’s running amok, the goal saw Glen take control and at the break they held a handsome 10-point lead with Conor Carville and Conleth McGuckin adding their names to the Glen scoresheet.

Glen continued to dominate following the half-time break as points from Tallon, Johnny McGuckin and Carville kept the scoreboard ticking along.

Banagher went in search of goals as they tried to find a way back into the contest but the closest, they came was when Eamon Óg Feeney’s effort was blocked by Ryan Dougan. Instead, they had to settle for an Eoin Devine point.

IN PICTURES: Glen see off the brave challenge of St Mary’s Banagher

As the game edged to its conclusion Glen took their foot off the pedal and Moore responded with two two-pointers to give the scoreline a respectable look.

But in the end, it was too little, as Glen saw out their task with six-points to spare.

Teams and Scorers:-

Glen: Connlan Bradley, Michael Warnock, Ryan Dougan, Conor Carville (0-2), Peter Byrson, Ciaran McFaul, Cahir McCabe Conor Glass, Jack Doherty (0-2), Stevie O’Hara (0-1f), Ethan Doherty (0-5 2 2pt), Conor Convery (0-1), Conleth McGuckian (0-1), Danny Tallon (0-3f), Johnny McGuckin (1-2).

Replacements: Eunan Mulholland for Warnock (18), Jody McDermott for McFaul (HT), Paul Gunning for O’Hara (48) Odhran Molloy for Carville (48).

Banagher: Callum Armstrong, Senan Lockhart, Cathair McGilligan, Jack O’Neill, Keelan O’Kane, Gavin O’Neill, Peter Hagan (0-1), Eoin Devine (0-1), Callum O’Kane (0-1), Shane Murphy, Eamon Óg Feeney (0-1), Ruairi Quirk, Ciaran Lynch, Brian Óg McGilligan, Tiarnan Moore (0-10 1f 2 2ptf).

Replacements: Liam Eoin Campbell for J O’Neill (HT), Oisin Feeney for S Murphy (37), Paul Murphy for C Lynch (49).

Referee: Mr Brendan Quinn (Ballinascreen).