South Derry takeover: Greenlough and Desertmartin to ignite Celtic Park double-header

In the first of an all-South Derry double-header at Find Insurance Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon, Greenlough and Desertmartin will lock horns in the McFeely Group Intermediate Football Championship final, with a 1.30pm throw-in.

It will be the first time the sides have met in an intermediate final, with Greenlough looking to return to the senior ranks for the first time since 2016, while the St Martin’s men are still awaiting their first tier two title, having suffered five final defeats since 1977.

Greenlough last won the Sheridan, Bateson and Lee Cup in 2020, defeating Steelstown 1-12 to 1-8 in the Covid-affected final. However, due to the global pandemic, the Derry County Board had suspended promotion and relegation for that campaign.

The following year, Steelstown exacted sweet revenge on the Covid champions, edging Greenlough out by 0-9 to 0-8 in the final before going on to claim the Ulster and All-Ireland Intermediate titles.

By contrast, Desertmartin have reached the final for the first time since their last bout of heartbreak in 2003, when a replay defeat to Ballymacguigan ensured it would be another generation before the St Martin’s men earned another opportunity to break their hoodoo.

Indeed, Desertmartin’s last semi-final appearance also came that year, highlighting just how impressive their campaign has been. Manager Sean Brady was part of the Ballymacguigan side that defeated them in 2003, and the St Martin’s boss will be hoping for a very different outcome this time around as he looks to lead his side to the promised land for the first time at the sixth time of asking.

Sunday’s contest promises to be an intriguing tussle between St Oliver Plunkett’s, who boast quality throughout the pitch, and a Desertmartin side with an exciting crop of emerging players. None has caught the eye more than the supremely talented Lachlan McHale, who has kicked 2-7 in his last two outings to help power the St Martin’s men into the decider.

Conor Murtagh and Rory O’Hagan, however, pose a constant threat alongside their talisman, having contributed a handsome combined tally of 3-6 in their last two knockout victories over Claudy and Craigbane.

Greenlough have similarly impressed throughout the campaign, although they survived a late scare in their most recent outing to get over the line against Eoghan Rua. Plunketts appeared to be cruising with two minutes remaining, thanks to a brace of two-pointers from Caomhán McNally that put them 0-16 to 1-8 ahead.

However, injury-time points from Pearse and Aidan McGonigle, followed by a last-gasp effort from Barry McGoldrick that rattled the upright, meant Sean Mellon’s charges emerged from Owenbeg with the victory, but also just by the skin of their teeth.

That late scare could prove to be exactly what Greenlough need to sharpen their axe ahead of what promises to be a thriller against a free-scoring Desertmartin side. The Lough boast a nice blend of young players in key positions alongside an experienced core, many of whom have played senior championship football and were part of the club’s last Intermediate triumph.

There is likely to be little separating the sides as they head for the home of Derry GAA on Sunday, with Greenlough’s experience perhaps giving them a slight edge. However, there is also a sense of inevitability surrounding this emerging Desertmartin crop, and even if Sunday proves to be too soon, it may only be a matter of time before they finally end their hoodoo.