No separating Steelstown or Slaughtneil in fascinating Championship battle at Pairc Bhrid

Derry Senior Championship - O'Neill’s SFC Group B

Steelstown 0-12

Slaughtneil 0-12

It says everything about Steelstown’s performance that they were left to wonder what might have been after an absorbing Championship clash with Slaughtneil.

Had there even been a few more seconds of referee Cathal Doherty’s watch, they may even have pulled out a famous victory, as they had all the ball in the last few minutes, pushing and passing to find that pass which would give them that one last shooting opportunity. But it never came.

A jam-packed Pairc Bhrid applauded both sets of players from the pitch after an entertaining and fascinating game, but the home supporters were definitely wondering just how close their team came to beating Slaughtneil and a result which would have made plenty sit up and take notice.

In the end, there were so many positives to take from this game for Steelstown boss Paddy Campell, who watched his players dig deep to pull back a three-point deficit, just when it seemed as if all the experience and quality in the Slaughtneil team had taken them on a clear road to victory after a very close first half.

Slaughtneil had Chrissy McKaigue and Brendan Rogers back in their team, but Shane McGuigan wasn’t named on the panel, an encouragement in itself for the Steelstown defenders.

The Robbies dominated Steelstown when they met in their league campaign just a few months ago, and no doubt learning the lessons from that, the home side adopted a patient approach, a very patient approach in fact; almost five minutes passed with a single Slaughtneil player touching the ball as Brian Ogs were deliberate and methodical in their passing. Goalkeeper Mickey McKinney was camped in the Slaughtneil half for most of this spell, the extra man helping the home side to keep possession, while Slaughtneil waited for their moment.

While that spell of possession didn’t end in a point, with Ben McCarron’s effort dropping into the hands of Antoin McMullan, the stage was set. Possession and patience was the key for Campbell’s side as well as attacking and defending in a blue wave.

Steelstown were never chasing the game once in an impressive first half and they landed the first blow when Cahir McMonagle scored from a free. Slaughtneil responded immediately and both Rogers and Padraig Cassidy were involved before Christopher Bradley hooked over the bar.

McKinney was not shy in going forward for Steelstown and it was he who restored the home side’s lead, before Padraig Cassidy tied it up again.

Steelstown however finally got some daylight over their opponents, with successive scores, Neil Forester scoring after a typically determined run, and McCarron grabbing his first point from a free.

It was good stuff from Steelstown, but they hardly had time yet to pat themselves on the back, and the game was level at 0-4 apiece by 23 minutes thanks to Cormac O’Doherty and Cassidy again splitting the posts.

Yet Slaughtneil couldn’t manage to edge in front, no matter what they did, and McCarron put his team ahead again before Ronan Bradley was allowed to score unmarked from 30 metres.

It did look as if Steelstown would at least go into the break ahead when McCarron scored again, but Bradley scored a free in the dying seconds and it was 0-6 at the break, with the home support encouraged and optimistic of what lay ahead.

Half time 0-6, 0-6

Slaughtneil began to take control early after the restart and Rogers gave them the lead for the first time. McKinney then had a point ruled out controversially, his effort looking good, but after consultation with his umpire, referee Doherty judged it was wide. To make matters worse for Steelstown, Meehaul McGrath then doubled Slaughtneil’s lead with a lovely finish after jinking inside.

Eoghan Bradley pulled a timely score back for the hosts, but the momentum was with Slaughtneil, and when Bradley and McKaigue scored, it meant they had four of the last five points, and led 0-10, 0-7 as a result.

The superb Cahir McMonagle kept Steelstown interested, scoring twice either side of a point from O’Doherty and when Ryan Devine scored from distance, the comeback really was on. It was here that the game shifted in Steelstown’s favour, with Emmet Deane instrumental as he helped his team win four McMullan kick-outs in succession. There was little Slaughtneil could do in the face of that blue wave and when Forester was fouled, McCarron knocked over a free to level at 0-11 apiece.

Cheered on by their supporters, Steelstown then turned it around completely, with the talismanic McMonagle scoring off his right foot, the cheer that met that score the loudest of the night at Pairc Bhrid.

Steelstown were just minutes from victory, but they had little time to think about their lead as it disappeared within seconds, Cassidy invited to shoot and obliging to make it 0-12 each.

The final minutes were agonising for both, each team slowing the play right down, looking for that one chance. But it was Steelstown who finished the stronger. They had two minutes of added time to find their moment, but despite their best efforts, it eluded them.

The final whistle brought plenty of pride, but the predominant question for those in blue was a simple one – ‘What if?’

Teams and Scorers

Steelstown scorers: Ben McCarron (0-4, 3f), Chair McMonagle (0-4, 1f), Michael McKinney (0-1), Neil Forester (0-1), Eoghan Bradley (0-1), Ryan Devine (0-1).

Slaughtneil scorers: Christopher Bradley (0-3, 2f), Padraig Cassidy (0-3), Cormac O'Doherty (0-2), Ronan Bradley (0-1), Brendan Rogers (0-1), Meehaul McGrath (0-1), Chrissy McKaigue (0-1).

Steelstown: Michael McKinney, Eoghan Concannon, Donncha Gilmore, Ryan McCloskey, Shane O'Connor, Diarmuid Baker, Cormac Mooney, Ryan Devine, Emmett Deane, Neil Forester, Oran McMenamin, Jason McAleer, Ben McCarron, Eoghan Bradley, Cahir McMonagle.

Subs: Morgan Murray for E Bradley, 49mins; Oran Fox for E Concannon (inj), 60mins.

Slaughtneil: Antoin McMullan, Paul McNeil, Karl McKaigue, Fionnbarr McGuigan, Ruairi O'Mianain, Chrissy McKaigue, Conor McAllister, Brendan Rogers, Padraig Cassidy, Meehaul McGrath, Ronan Bradley, Peter McCullagh, Cormac O'Doherty, Jack Cassidy, Christopher Bradley.

Subs: Peadar Kearney for F McGuigan, HT; Mark McGuigan for C O'Doherty, 51mins; Keelan Feeney for C McAllister, 55mins.

Referee: Cathal Doherty