Newbridge hold off Magherafelt to retain Derry title

Eamon Young kicked the insurance point for the champions.
Newbridge hold off Magherafelt to retain Derry title

Padraig McGrogan of Newbridge shoots to score despite the efforts of Caolan Higgins of Magherafelt. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Newbridge 1-17 Magherafelt 1-15

Newbridge retained their Derry title at wet Celtic Park on Sunday. 

Eamon Young kicked the insurance point to end a spirited comeback.

Magherafelt had one last chance to save the game but goalkeeper Shea McGuckin pulled a late two-point free wide of the posts.

Shane Heavron scored all of the Rossa 1-5 in the first half and had the ball over the bar for the opening point.

The champions came with the perfect response when Callum McGrogan followed a high Conor Doherty all to fist to the net after four minutes.

Heavron responded for Magherafelt and he struck a 10th-minute goal after a goalmouth scramble.

Newbridge began to take a grip of the game and with Sean Young on target with three points, they edged into a 1-6 to 1-5 interval lead.

A Shea McGuckin free levelled matters early in the second half before Conor McAteer made a score for Oisin Doherty and Paudi McGrogan kicked the champions two ahead.

As Newbridge began to control the middle third a Conor McAteer two-pointer had them 1-11 to 1-6 before Sahir Spiers responded for Rossa.

Sean Young may had added a goal only for a brilliant save from Shea McGuckin in the 42nd minute.

Paudi McGrogan and Cormac Murphy exchanged points as the game headed into the final quarter.

When Mark Doherty won a kick-out, brother Oisin thumped a two-pointer for a 1-14 to 1-8 lead.

Shane Heavron came with a perfect response with a two-point free but Newbridge still helped control.

Scores from Heavron, Dan Higgins and Conor McCluskey had the margin back to a single point with eight minutes to play.

Scores for Magherafelt: S Heavron 1-8 (2tpf, 1f), D Higgins (tp), C Murphy 0-2 each, S McGuckin, C Spiers and C McCluskey 0-1 each 

Scorers for Newbridge: C McAteer 0-5 (1tp), O Doherty 0-4 (1tp), Callum McGrogan 1-1, S Young 0-3, P McGrogan 0-2, C Doherty 0-1 and E Young 0-1 each

Magherafelt: S McGuckin; J Murray, M McEvoy, C Heron; S McErlain, C McCluskey, R Small; D Higgins, E McEvoy; A McCluskey, C Spiers, P McLarnon; Conall Higgins, S Heavron, C Murphy 

Subs: Caolan Higgins for McLarnon (INJ 17), R Walls for Spiers (39), C Crozier for A McCluskey (44) 

Newbridge: N Rocks; S McGrogan, M McGrogan; P McMullan, Conor McGrogan, P McGrogan; C Doherty, Callum McGrogan, Conleth McGrogan; E Young, M Doherty, C McAteer; S McAteer; S Young, O Doherty Subs: C McBride for S McAteer (53), O McGlone for McMullan (58) 

Referee: R Donoghue (Slaughtneil)

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