Champions retain their title in high quality county final

O’Neill’s Senior Football Championship Final

Newbridge 1-17, Magherafelt 1-15

THOSE who believed that Newbridge were not capable of holding on to their county title will now realise that it will take a good team to take John McLaughlin Cup from their grasp.
Six McGrogan brothers and cousins, three Doherty brothers, two McAteer brothers and two Young brothers left two spaces for goalie Nathan Rocks and corner forward Patrick McMullan to fill.
The ‘Bridge were one of the outsiders to win the title from day one and on the day Magherafelt Rossas were odds on.
There may have been just two points in at the end but Newbridge were the better team for the middle part of the game, their distribution was top class, their defending excellent and if there was a dark spot it was too many scoring chances spurned.
They did adopt a shoot on sight policy while the Rossas completely overdid the short passing into a very good winners defence.
The losers never reached the heights that saw them hammer former champions Glen by 11 points. They were never seriously tested during their path to the final and maybe that played against them.
Newbridge had a more rocky path, losing to Dungiven on day one but recovering to beat Swatragh, The Loup and Steelstown who gave them a stiff test.
In the semi final they had again to give it their all to see off a determined Slaughtneil team by a two point margin.
Conor McGrogan was the rock of a brilliant defence as they turned over Magherafelt attacks time after time.
Shane Heavron, the tall Rosas full forward, was the only one to constantly trouble the Newbridge back line until Cormac Murphy got into the game in the last 15 minutes when his side cut the ‘Bridge’s six point lead back to a single score but good champions will always win tight games and they did just that.
Apart from Conor McGrogan at number six the man on his left Padraig McGrogan was in top form. The loss of experienced forward Paddy McLarnon with injury after 12 minutes was a major setback in a generally young Rossas team.
Conor Doherty at midfield showed great leadership as he and Conleth McGrogan bettered the Rossa duo of Dan Higgins and Eoin McEvoy until the last quarter.
In attack Sean Young added to his growing reputation as a future Derry senior. James Murray detailed him for the second half and did really well keeping him scoreless in that period.
Magherafelt’s swashbuckling style did well in the more expansive Owenbeg but in the more compact Celtic Park their close passing football was tailor made for their neighbours’ tightly knit defence.
The game got off to a lively start when, after a Shea McAteer wide, Magherafelt attacked and in his first effort Shane Heavron converted a free.
In the second minute Newbridge hit the front when Conor Doherty’s high ball was finished to the net by Callum McGrogan.
In a pre-match switch McGrogan moved to the attack with Patrick McMullan moving back to the half back line.
A two point free by Heavron tied the game up but not for long as Sean Young and Conor McGrogan put Newbridge in front with just seven all action minutes on the clock.
Shane Heavon was virtually a one man forward line for the Rossas and his two point free followed by his close range goal left his team 1-4 to 1-2 in front.
Unfortunately, their scores dried up and it was 20 minutes later that that their next score came and that was from the big full forward again.
In between Sean Young, with two, Conor Doherty and Conor McAteer with one each left the defending champions 1-6 to 1-5 in front at half time.

Second Half

Magherafelt drew level when their keeper Shea McGuckin sent over a long range free after Conall Higgins had been fouled.
It was after this score that Newbridge showed their quality. In the 35th minute Oisin Doherty gave them a lead they were never to lose.
Padraig McGrogan and Oisin Doherty, again in quick succession, stretched the lead out to three points and Magherafelt were struggling in the key areas.
The winners’ midfielders Conor Doherty and Conleth McGrogan were winning the kick outs from both ends. In the 39th minute Conor McAteer landed a two pointer but a quick reply from Cahir Spiers made the score 1-11 to 1-7.
Newbridge began a series of missed chances. Sean Young with a point for the taking tried for a goal but his shot was well saved by Shea McGuckin. Conor McAteer added to the growing list of missed opportunities when he shot wide when it looked easier to score.
The experienced Paudie McGrogan then blasted a shot just over the bar to open up a five point lead.
Cormac Murphy, who was beginning to find space, gave the Rossas a lifeline but that score was wiped out when Oisin Doherty sent over a stunning two point score.
At 1-14 to 1-8 behind Magherafelt began to find a bit of the form that blew all opposition aside. Dan Higgins began to win more ball at midfield and Newbridge were under pressure in spells and in the 46th minute Shane Heavron sent over a two pointer.
In a slick move Dan Higgins was narrowly wide. Conor McAteer with a point looked to have put the Rossas revival in the back burner but when the powerful Dan Higgins sent over a long range double nine minutes from time just two points separated the teams as excitement reached fever pitch.
Conor McCluskey, who was having a quiet game by his own high standards, came up from defence to leave just a point between them. Conor McAteer with a sublime score the put two between the teams but when an Higgins set up Murphy it was back to a one point game.
Just prior to that Eamon Young missed an easy chance but with virtually the last action of the game he made no mistake at the second opportunity and the green shirted men from the edge of Lough Neagh had won their 12th Derry title to go third on the list of winners, just one behind Ballinderry.
Celtic Park quickly became a sea of green as the supporters young and old flocked on to the pristine Celtic Park surface to greet their heroes.
This young team now face into the Ulster championship with a home game against Dunloy in two weeks.
Many of the fancied teams have fallen by the wayside in the club championship.
Last year’s two finalists - Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) and Clan Earainn (Armagh) - contested the final last year and both are gone, as are Cargin (Antrim), Belleek (Fermanagh), St. Eunan’s(Donegal).
Other big names like Glen and Slaughtneil (Derry) Cavan Gaels, Crossmaglen (Armagh) and Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh) have fallen by the wayside.
Of the noble teams that are still there only Kilcoo (Down) and Scotstown (Monaghan) still remain.

Newbridge: Nathan Rocks; Shea McAteer, Shane McGrogan, Mark McGrogan; Callum McGrogan (1-0), Conor McGrogan, Pádraig McGrogan (0-2) each; Conor Doherty (0-1), Conleth McGrogan (0-1); Eamon Young (0-1), Mark Doherty, Conor McAteer (0-3); Patrick McMullan, Seán Young (0-3), Oisín Doherty (1-2).

Subs: Cathair McBride for S McAteer (52 mins), Odhran McGlone for P McMullen (57

Magherafelt: Shea McGuckin (0-1, ); James Murray, Michael McEvoy, Conall Heron; Simon McErlain, Conor McCluskey (0-1), Rory Small; Dan Higgins (0-2), Eoin McEvoy; Aidan McCluskey, Cahir Spiers (0-1), Paddy McClarnon; Conall Higgins, Shane Heavron (1-8), Cormac Murphy (0-2).

Subs: Caolan Higgins for McClarnon (17 mins); Ronan Walls for Spiers (38), Caolan Crozier for A McCluskey (44).

Referee: Richie Donoghue (Slaughtneil)