Slaughtneil stroll to eleventh successive Derry hurling title

The champions, led by captain Brendan Rogers, cruised to a convincing win against Kevin Lynch's in the final in Owenbeg on Sunday.

CHAMPIONS: Slaughtneil winners of the Derry Senior Hurling Championship. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Slaughtneil 3-23 Kevin Lynch’s 1-9

It was more of the same as Slaughtneil eased their way to an eleventh successive Derry hurling title in Owenbeg on Sunday.

The champions led 0-13 to 0-1 at half-time before three goals from skipper Brendan Rogers blew way any hopes of a Kevin Lynch’s comeback.

Slaughtneil’s prize is an 11-week lay-off before their next outing, an Ulster final against whoever comes through from the winners of Down or Antrim in the their semi-final.

Starting without six of their winning team, Michael McShane’s record of blooding new players year on year paid dividends. Only Mark McGuigan from the starting six forwards last year was in action.

Peter McCullagh had the ball over the bar withing 13 seconds of the throw-in and with the help of Ruairí Ó Mianáin’s long deliveries from defence the winners’ attack was well supplied with ammo.

Four different scorers raised a while flag in the first 10 minutes as they stamped their authority on the game.

Slaughtneil had two half chances for goals late in the first half but McCullagh blasted over before Mark McGuigan pulled a shot wide.

Corey O’Reilly rifled over the opening Kevin Lynch’s point late in the half, finding a Slaughtneil defence in resolute form.

Kevin Lynch’s launched an attack within seconds of the restart that almost yielded a goal only for Sean Cassidy to get a block on Tiarnán McHugh’s attempt.

The floodgates opened in the 34th minute when Rogers was put clear and he dispatched his shot across ‘keeper Hinphey for a 1-14 to 0-2 lead.

Slaughtneil captain Brendan Rogers celebrates a goal. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Gerald Bradley and Ruairí Ó Mianáin added points before the second Slaughtneil goal. It was Rogers’ pace along the endline that took him clear of Paddy Kelly before he drilled to the net.

With Richie Mullan and Mark Craig battling gamely, Kevin Lynchs' duo managed a goal from Ronan Mullan, a fine finish to net.

It only poked the bear and the Emmet’s raced back with a third goal. When Peter McCullagh was denied by Hinphey, Rogers finished to the net from close range.

The Derry football star looked certain to bag a fourth goal only for a Hinphey save from point-blank range.

Richie Mullan and O’Reilly pegged back scores but the game was well over as a contest and Ó Mianáin, Jack Cassidy, Cormac and Sean O’Doherty kept the scoreboard ticking over in a comfortable Slaughtneil win.

Scorers for Slaughtneil: B Rogers (3-2), C O’Doherty 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), R Ó Mianáin (0-3), P McCullagh, M McGuigan, G Bradley, E Cassidy (0-2 each), J Cassidy, S O’Doherty (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kevin Lynch’s: Richie Mullan (0-5, 0-2f, 0-2 65), C O’Reilly (0-4), Ronan Mullan (1-0).

SLAUGHTNEIL: O O’Doherty; P McNeill, S Cassidy, J McCloskey; C McAllister, R Ó Mianáin, M McGrath; B Rogers, G Bradley; J Cassidy, M McGuigan, E Cassidy; C O’Doherty, P McCullagh, K McKaigue.

Subs: Michael McEldowney for P McNeill (48), Shea Cassidy for K McKaigue (50), S O’Doherty for E Cassidy (60).

KEVIN LYNCH'S: L Hinphey; N McGonigle, P Kelly, E Cassidy; Richie Mullan, M Craig, D McGilligan; J Mullan, S O’Neill; C O’Reilly, T McHugh, T Brady; Ronan Mullan, S Kelly, E McKeever.

Subs: O McElhinney for S Kelly (35), S Higgins for E McKeever (47).

Referee: E Hasson (Swatragh).