Defending champions are part of attractive Owenbeg double header

O’Neill’s Senior Football Championship

GLEN, Slaughtneil, Steelstown and Magherafelt can sit and wait to see who will join them in the quarter finals.
For those already qualified they have the benefit of two weeks off. For the losers of the four games it will be a long wait until the competitions resume next February.

Faughanvale v Bellaghy at Owenbeg, Saturday 3pm
Referee: Martin McErleane

There was not much between these teams in the league but that will count for nothing on Saturday as these teams strive to stay in the championship.
Experience is a key factor in senior championship football and that is where Bellaghy have a noted advantage.
This is Faughanvale’s first year in senior football for close on three decades. Last year they should have won the intermediate title only for a contentious decision that earned Ballinderry a draw.
The Shamrock’s won the replay and reached the All Ireland final.
Bellaghy had a comfortable win over Ballinderry in the first round but lost by an eight point margin in round two against Slaughtneil.
To add to the defeat they lost their attack leader Paul Cassidy with a nasty looking ankle injury and he is doubtful for this winner take all encounter.
Darrell O’Kane’s Faughanvale have been involved in two high scoring games losing one and winning the other. They faced Steelstown in what was probably the most dramatic game in this championship so far.
They came from 12 points down to force a draw against the city side but ended up losing by a nine point margin on a final score of 2-27 to 5-9.
In game two they accounted for Drumsurn the complete outsiders of the championship at Celtic Park. They led by 0-10 to 0-4 at half time but ended up 3-17 to 3-8 in front at the final whistle.
Two of the Drumsurn goals came in the last few minutes in a game where the St. Mary’s were never seriously tested.
Bellaghy have won the county title 21 times but they have to go back 21 years since they last held the John McLaughlin Cup. John McLaughlin was a founder of the Faughanvale club in 1933.
If O’Kane’s less experienced team are to upset the odds they must improve at the back. It may come as a surprise, but Faughanvale are the top scorers in the championship totalling 54 points - 14 ahead of Bellaghy. The downside is that they have conceded ten more than Bellaghy.
The underdogs might just have the edge at midfield where Jordan Curran and Mark Creane can get the upper hand on Oisin McErlean and Peter Cassidy.
Eoin McElhinney at full forward will keep Bellaghy’s Karl McCallion busy. In the likely absence of Paul Cassidy rising teenage star Dara Doherty could come into the attack where the ever present Eoghan Brown is still the play maker in chief.
Neither team would be among the front runners but Bellaghy should be in the quarter final draw on Sunday evening.

Newbridge v The Loup at Owenbeg 4-45pm Saturday
Referee: Barry Cassidy

The defending champions Newbridge got a sharp reminder from Dungiven in the opening round that you cannot overlook the capabilities of any team when handed a ten point hammering.
Lesson learned, they went back to basics in round two with an 11 point victory over Swatragh to keep hopes alive of retaining the John McLaughlin Cup.
They will be well tested by a lively Loup team who beat Swatragh in a classic but conceded a late 1-3 in defeat by Steelstown to lose by 2-14 to 2-11.
Newbridge have nine players in their team that have represented Derry at either minor, under 20 or senior level over the past year. They are seen as a team that will be around for a long time whether they retain their title this year or not.
They competed in three adult leagues this year and won them all comfortably indicating the depth of talent that have at present.
The Loup have improved this year but probably not enough to win this game. The St. Patrick’s have an outstanding trio of forwords in Cairan Devlin, Caolan Devlin and Anthony O’Neill.
The champions’ defence would not be as strong as they would like, as Dungiven showed by scoring 2-15 against them. They are strong at midfield and in attack where the Young and Doherty brothers are fast and accurate.
Midfield is an area where Newbridge might have the upper hand. County star Conor Doherty and Conleth McGrogan are a solid pair. The ‘Bridge, who select from a very small area, will have up to six McGrogan brothers and cousins, three Doherty brothers, two McAteer brothers and two Young brothers lining out so it is easy to see why they are such a tight knit unit.
The Loup have a good blend of youth and experience in their ranks but the champions just look too strong for them.