Slaughtneil pushed all the way by Kilrea

Slaughtneil's Patsy Bradley getting the ball away from Kilrea's Tommy Rogers. Pic by Mark Doherty

placeholder image — Slaughtneil's Patsy Bradley getting the ball away from Kilrea's Tommy Rogers. Pic by Mark Doherty

Slaughtneil 0-16

Kilrea 1-10

Slaughtneil were made to dig deep for their third win of the campaign with two late points in Kilrea.

Mark Doran’s side were never behind but a high ball to James Kielt led to James Gillen’s goal to give the Pearses a lifeline.

Larry Kielt added a free to take the game back to a single point. Kilrea’s half press wasn’t enough to win the first Slaughtneil kick-out of the day. Seconds later Peter McCullagh’s high ball was flicked by Eamon Cassidy before going out for a 45.

Up stepped Shane McGuigan to nail the kick before a third Christopher Bradley points sealed the win.

The Emmet’s led 0-7 to 0-3 at half time but Kilrea were always able to keep in touch in the third quarter.

Slaughtneil pulled five clear with points in quick succession and looked like seeing out the game until Gillen’s goal forced them to find the two late points to secure victory.

Scorers:

Slaughtneil: Shane McGuigan 0-6 (5f, 1 45), Christopher Bradley (2f), Jerome McGuigan 0-3 each. Eamon Cassidy 0-2, Mark McGuigan and Patsy Bradley 0-1 each

Kilrea: Larry Kielt (1f), Caothair O’Neill 0-3 each, James Gillen 1-0, Rory Maguire (f), James Kielt (f). Daithi McLaughlin and Peadar McLaughlin 0-1 each

Slaughtneil:

Jack Cassidy; Karl McKaigue, Fionnbharr McGuigan, Eamon Cassidy; Christopher Bradley, Chrissy McKaigue, Ruairí Ó Mianáin; Patsy Bradley, Brendan Rogers; Jerome McGuigan, Shane McGuigan, Conor Coyle; Shea Cassidy, Mark McGuigan, Cormac O’Doherty

Subs: Sé McGuigan for M McGuigan (45), Peter McCullagh for O’Doherty (45), Eoin Mulholland for S Cassidy (49), Ronan Bradley for Coyle (60), Peadar Kearney for E Cassidy (62)

Kilrea:

Eoghan Rogers; Ruairi McCamphill, Gearoid McLaughlin, Odhran Rafferty; Peadar McLaughlin, Kevin Quinn, Odhran McLarnon; Tommy Rogers, James Kielt; Tiernan Quigg, Larry Kielt, James Gillen; Cathaoir O’Neill, Daithi McLaughlin, PJ McAleese

Subs: Rory Maguire for PJ McAleese (45), Aidan Gillen for E Rogers (INJ 45), Eamon Darragh for Quigg (60)

Referee: Benny Quinn (Ballinascreen)