Owenbeg to host hurling finals triple header

Lavey and Banagher will face off in the intermediate final at 2pm, while the afternoon of hurling will get underway at noon as Ballinascreen and Swatragh meet in the junior decider.

The junior final will see Swatragh or Ballinascreen secure a second-ever title at the grade, with the pairing also representing a first-ever final meeting between the two clubs at the level.

Michael Davitt’s, who were defeated by Lavey in a nail-biting 1-17 to 1-13 playoff last weekend, had ambitions of an unprecedented three-in-a-row intermediate crowns but will now have their eyes firmly fixed on a first junior crown since 2023, which provided a springboard for their subsequent Tier Two success.

Last time out against a resurgent Lavey side, the result could easily have gone either way, with nothing separating the sides in a cagey tit-for-tat affair before a Lorcan McDonnell goal allowed the 23-time Derry champions to pull away in the final quarter. Dan Mulholland made a superb save from Cathal Murray’s attempt at goal immediately afterwards, before Sean Marty Quinn’s stoppage-time green flag proved too late for Michael Davitt’s.

For Lavey, junior champions last year, an intermediate final is a considerable step forward in their progression following a number of years in the doldrums of Derry hurling. The historical kingpins on Foyleside have failed to reach a senior final since 2011, with their last Fr Collins Cup arriving a year earlier.

Managed by Derry inter-county boss Johnny McGarvey, Erins Own are finally beginning to see the fruit of years of hard labour, with an exciting generation emerging in the south Derry club. The likes of Rian Collins, Tiarnan Melaugh, Conor Melaugh and Ryan McGarvey helped to power Derry to Christy Ring glory earlier in the summer and are now making a lasting impression at club level.

A run to the Ulster Junior Final last year allowed the young Lavey team to make great strides forward under Martin Convery, and this year they have taken it to another level, with a shot at a second-ever intermediate crown the next step on their journey towards returning to the summit of Derry club hurling.

Standing in their way is a Banagher outfit who overcame Ballinascreen on a 0-14 to 0-12 scoreline, their second narrow victory over St Colm’s in this year’s championship. It is a repeat of last year’s junior decider, which Erins Own powered to a 1-17 to 1-7 victory to secure a third Tier Three crown.

Banagher and 'Screen met in the opening round, where a subpar showing from St Mary’s saw them survive a scare to snatch a win over their near neighbours. In their Round 3 playoff rematch, Derry U20 dangerman Ruairi Biggs helped to power Banagher beyond the challenge of Ballinascreen, with the dual star unerring from placed balls and ending the day with a remarkable 0-11 haul.

Manager Brian Cummins will no doubt be hoping that Biggs can get some help on the scoreboard, with the youngster unquestionably set to be well marshalled by McGarvey’s charges.

It is also only two years since Banagher made it to the Leadon Timber Frames senior final, where Slaughtneil eased to a 0-16 to 0-4 victory. The winners of Sunday’s intermediate decider will fly the red and white Oakleaf flag in the Ulster Intermediate Championship quarter-final, which is set to take place in late October.

Defeated Ballinascreen will make up the other pairing in the junior decider, where they will face the mammoth task of Swatragh in the decider. Swatragh, managed by Eddie McCloskey, reached the Ulster Intermediate Final in 2024, only to be narrowly defeated by Antrim’s Carey Faugh’s as the defending back-to-back intermediate champions will prove a massive task for the Screen men.

Ballinascreen, however, won the Tier Three competition as recently as 2024 before going on to win the provincial crown later that winter, defeating East Cavan Gaels in the final on a 1-25 to 3-9 scoreline. The winners on Sunday will secure their second-ever Derry junior title and provide another important step in their respective club’s development.

2026 Derry Hurling Finals

Find Insurance Owenbeg — September 20

Junior Final: Swatragh v Ballinascreen, 12pm

Intermediate Final: Lavey v Banagher, 2pm

Senior Final: Slaughtneil v Kevin Lynch’s, 4pm