Slaughtneil blow Banagher away to win 12th successive Senior Hurling title

Leadon Timber Frame Senior Hurling Championship Final 

Slaughtneil 0-16 

Banagher 0-4

Alan Gunn reports from Owenbeg

STORM Ashley halted Slaughtneil last weekend but there was no stopping them making it a 12th successive county title at a wet Owenbeg on Saturday afternoon. 

The reigning champions comfortably eased their way through the Derry championship and had little difficulty in this one sided decider. Banagher came in as massive underdogs and although they defended resolutely with Gabriel Farren outstanding, they never looked like troubling the champions at the other end, hitting just four points, one of those from play, Niall Biggs finding himself isolated in carrying the fight upfront.  

The Emmets, with Fionn McEldowney, were excellent in defence along with another young up and coming star Conor Coyle. Up front, yet again Cormac O’Doherty was the top scorer with 0-9 to his name at the finish while both Ruairi O’Mainain and Shane McGuigan were also superb throughout from their half back spots. 

It may not have been the best of Slaughtneil with opportunities going begging but they never had to raise to great heights. They led by six at the break after slowly finding their feet and it was something team manger Paul McCormack touched on after the game. 

“We were slow to settle, Banagher frustrated us at times, we missed opportunities but you have to give credit to Banagher they were fighting for every ball,” he said.

“We encourage the boys to fight for the jersey and stand up. They are showing it in training and again today I thought lads were outstanding, only conceded four points and on  day that is a good return for your defence.” 

“We must keep our standards high and push each other. The next day will be step up of course, Cushendall are a well drilled side, very experienced. We will prepare the best we can and maybe get a little bit more polished in our play.”   

They raced three clear, Shane McGuigan opening the scoring and then on hand to set up both Brendan Rogers and Jack Cassidy. Darragh Martin got Banagher off the mark with a free and their only score from play arrived at the end of the opening quarter from Fiontain McGilligan after O’Doherty had hit his first of the day. 

Banagher were direct but it didn’t work as Slaughtneil were sharper and won most of the 50/50 possessions or those breaking balls. They rattled off four in-a-row before the interval with O’Mainain and O’Doherty (3) all on target. They almost snatched a goal, their only real goal opportunity of the game when some beautiful skill by Rogers created the chance but his flick backwards just went the wrong side of the post. 

Banagher needed a good start to the second half and Cartin give it to them from a free, but they failed to build on this and they were not to trouble the scoreboard again until the final minute of normal time. Slaughtneil kept the scoreboard ticking over and by the end of the third quarter they had opened up a 10 point advantage. O’Doherty on target while a superb point from O’Mainain and two quick fire scores by Se McGuigan. 

The game as a contest was well and truly over and petered out with O’Doherty adding a further three to his name while substitute Callum O’Kane fired a free for the Banagher men. 

The dozen is complete in the county and now Slaughtneil will quickly turn their attentions to Cushendall in the Ulster semi-final on Saturday, November 16. 

Team and Scorers

Slaughtneil: Cormac O’Doherty 0-9 (7f), Ruairi O’Mainain and Se McGuigan 0-2 each, Shane McGuigan, Jack Casidy and Brendan Rogers 0-1 each. 

Banagher: Darragh Martin 0-2 (f), Fiontan McGilligan and Callum O’Kane (f) 0-1 each. 

Slaughtneil: Oisin O’Doherty; Paul McNeil, Ruairi McCartney, Fionn McEldowney; Ruairi O’Mainain, Conor Coyle, Shane McGuigan; Jack Cassidy, Neehaul McGrath; Mark McGuigan, Sé McGuigan, Gerald Bradley; Cormac O’Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Shéa Cassidy. 

Subs: Camon Cassidy for S Cassidy, Conor McAllister for G Bradley, Cathal McKaigue for O’Mainain, Liam Cassidy for J Cassidy, Eunan Boylan for M McGuigan. 

Banagher: Darrel McDermott; Jack Lynch, Ruairi McCloskey, Cathair McGilligan; Niall Farren, Darragh McCloskey, Gabriel Farren; Brian Og McGilligan, Steafan McCloskey; Shane Murphy, Fiontan McGilligan, Ciaran Lynch; Darragh Cartin, Oisin McCloskey, Niall Biggs. 

Subs: Callum O’Kane for Murphy, Cathal O’Kane for C Lynch, 

Sean McCullagh for O McCloskey, Liam Eoin Campbell for N Biggs, Daniel McGrellis for Cartin.