Dungiven dominate reigning champions Newbridge
Dungiven’s prize is a clash with 2024 All-Ireland champions Glen
Dungiven 2-15 ... Newbridge 0-11
They came, they saw, they conquered. That was the story of Dungiven’s emphatic victory over reigning champions Newbridge on Sunday night.
They had a couple of slices of luck. Aside from that, they were measured, hungry and comfortable.
When Newbridge goalkeeper Nathan Rocks drove a kick-out into the path of Niall McGonigle he made no mistake, hammering in Dungiven’s second goal for a four-point interval lead.
The other key moment was Shea Young’s daisy cutter in the second half. 43 minutes gone. Two goals between the teams. All it needed as the slightest touch to divert it to the net. It whizzed across and into an eventual waiting set of Dungiven hands.
It was what short of game. While Newbridge failed to get anywhere close to their 2024 levels, Dungiven held all the cards.
Niall McNicholl’s full-length block late on typified them. So too Joe Dillon competing for kick-outs. Kevin Johnston ferrying ball from defence.
Dungiven had two banks of four black jerseys along the key battleground on Newbridge’s kick-outs. They thundered in on the breaking ball.
And when they got it, they treated it like gold, rarely giving it away. With that, they brought a control to game. As the second half developed, their five, six, seven and eight points leads looked like it was always going to be enough.
On a weekend when Bellaghy and Loup coughed up big leads, Dungiven’s were assured in everything that they did.
Dungiven’s prize is a clash with 2024 All-Ireland champions Glen while Newbridge face Swatragh in the backdoor as they bid to keep their hands on the title.
It was tit for tat early on. Kevin Johnston pointed. From a poked kick-out, Conor Doherty replied at the other end.
Aside from Conor Murphy hitting the post, it was a polished opening spell. A kick-out to Ben Dillon led the way to a Niall McGonigle point, the opening credits on his 1-9 tally.
Oisin Doherty added a two-point free to put Newbridge into the lead before Niall McGonigle levelled again.
In a game of underdogs against the champions, you see the belief in Dungiven’s method of play. Calm. Composed. A Conor Doherty two-pointer had the ‘Bridge back in front before an infraction for having two players in their have handed McGonigle a handy free.
The sides were level for a third time at 0-5 each before Eamon Young jinked in to put Newbridge ahead.
Everything changed on two Dungiven goals. The first was dispatched emphatically to the net by Joe Dillon after a goalmouth scramble.
Sean Young replied but the key Dungiven hammer blow arrived just before half-time. Faced by Dungiven’s two banks of four on the kick-out, goalkeeper Rocks shanked his kick straight to Niall McGonigle who hammered to the net for a 2-6 to 0-8 interval lead.
McGoingle added three points early in the second half to turn the screw.
Paudi McGrogan replied with a point and the ‘Bridge almost found the net when Sean Young’s shot whizzed across goal.
Substitutes Conor Kelly and Eoin Higgins made two points for Joe Dillon as Dungiven eased their way to victory.
Paudi McGrogan hit a late score. A mere consolation. They have two weeks of looking in the mirror ahead of an all or nothing date with Swatragh.
For Dungiven, Glen are next in line and the Watties know what to expected. Forewarned is forearmed.
Scorers:
Dungiven: Niall McGonigle 1-9 (6f), Joe Dillon 1-2, Odhran Muphy 0-2 (tp), Conor Murphy, Kevin Johnston 0-1 each
Newbridge: Oisin Doherty (tpf, 1f), Conor Doherty (tp) 0-3 each, Paudi McGrogan 0-2, Eamon Young, Conor McAteer, Sean Young 0-1 each
Newbridge: Nathan Rocks; Shea McAteer, Killian Burke, Mark McGrogan; Mark Doherty, Cathair McBride, Paudi McGrogan; Conor Doherty, Conleth McGrogan; Paddy McMullan, Conor McGrogan, Callum McGrogan; Eamon Young, Oisin Doherty, Sean Young
Subs: Shane McGrogan for Burke (22), Burke for Conleth McGrogan (Blood sub 47, reversed 50), Burke for M Doherty (59)
Yellow cards: Callum McGrogan (52, 57)
Red cards: Callum McGrogan (57)
Dungiven: Kevin Farren; Eoin McKeever, Bobby Butcher, Niall McKeever; Darragh McGilligan, Kevin Johnston, Parick O’Kane; Conor Murphy, Feargal Higgins; Ben Dillon, Fintan Murphy, Joe Dillon; Odhran Murphy, Niall McGonigle, Darach McGonigle
Subs: Jack McGroarty for Butcher (INJ 39), Conor Kelly for B Dillon (47), Eoin Higgins for D McGonigle (47), Kian O’Connor for N McKeever (62)
Referee: Richie Donoghue (Slaughtneil)