Reigning champions Glen began their championship campaign with comfortable victory

Glen 1-15

Dungiven 0-9

REIGNING champions Glen began their championship campaign with a comfortable victory at Pairc UiCathain on Wednesday evening. 

Malachy O’Rourke started 10 of their all Ireland starting side while both Conleith McGuckian and Eathan Doherty made appearances during the second half. In all the eventual winners had nine different scorers with Marc Dixon top scorer with 1-3 to his name. 

Dungiven who lost out to Bellaghy in their opening game on Saturday almost had the perfect start but Jack McGroarty’s penalty on two minutes was denied by a combination of the finger tips of Conlann Bradley and the post. Converted frees from Danny Tallon and Emmett Bradley saw the Watty’s move two clear and midway through the half they led 0-5 to 0-2. Richard Mullan reduced it back to two before Glen took control with six unanswered that included an absolute beauty off the boot of Emmett Bradley. They also created a goal chance with some neat passing but Jody McDermott’s effort rose high and over. 

Eoin Higgins who finished with five to his name brought the half to a close with a point as Glen went in leading 0-11 to 0-4. The Bradley brothers combined the start of the second half for another Emmett point while both sides almost found the net. Firstly a palmed effort from Alex Doherty was cleared off the line and then a long range effort from McGroarty was allowed bounce and came back off the underside of the crossbar. 

The goal did arrive on 57 minutes when Dixon palmed home from close range as Glen ran out winners with 9 points to spare at the finish. They will face Lavey on Sunday in Watty Graham park while it is a weekend off for Dungiven. 

Elsewhere in Group B this evening Newbridge also got their championship off to a winning start as they saw off Loup 1-15 to 1-9. 

Glen: Conlann Bradley; Michael Warnock, Ryan Dougan, Danny McDermott; Tiernan Higgins (0-1), Cathal Mulholland, Hunan Mulhalland; Jody McDermott (0-2), Emmett Bradley (0-3, 1f); Stevie O’Hara (0-1), Jack Doherty (0-1), Conor Convery (0-1); Alex Doherty (0-1), Danny Tallon (0-2, f), Marc Dixon (1-3). Subs: Conleith McGuckian for A Doherty, Adam McGonigle for E Mulholland, Ethan Doherty for C MulhollandRyan Winton for Convery, Paul Gunning for Dixon. 

Dungiven: Karl McGonigle; Sean McKeever, Eoin McKeever, Bobby Butcher; Ciaran Mackle (0-1), Darragh McGilligan, Jack McGroarty; Conor Murphy, Feargal Higgins; Sean Murray, Donal McGilligan, Joe Dillon; Eoin Higgins (0-5, 2f), Richard Mullan (0-1), Ben Dillon.  Subs: Ryan McElhinney for Murphy, Martin Burke (0-1) for B Dillon, Seamus McCloskey for Murray, John Mullan (0-1) for F Higgins. 

Referee: Sean Curran.