Bradley goal helps Slaughtneil into Ulster SHC final

FINAL BOOKED: Slaughtneil's Gerald Bradley celebrates scoring a goal. Picture: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Ulster Club SHC semi-final: Slaughtneil 1-23 Portaferry 1-18

A GOAL from substitute Gerald Bradley shot Slaughtneil towards another Ulster final on Sunday afternoon in Armagh.

Bradley finished to the net in a goalmouth scramble to open a four-point lead and break the game.

The Emmet’s passed up three goal chances either side of half-time after battling back from Daithi Sands hitting the net for Portaferry.

Points from Shane McGuigan and Ruairí Ó Mianáin laid the foundations for a spell that saw them ahead at the break, 0-12 to 1-8.

“To reel off four in the bounce to get in a point up at half-time was massive,” said playmaker Cormac O’Doherty.

“We knew we hadn't done ourselves justice in the first half. Fair play to Portaferry for that.

“They made it very difficult for us but that wee bit of momentum coming into the second half was big and it definitely told the end.” 

Brendan Rogers landed the first score of the game and the sides were level six times in the first 20 minutes.

Portaferry had five first half wides but it was Niall Fitzsimmons who fired over three first-half scores in an end-to-end contest.

Shéa Cassidy was unerring on frees and played inside with brother Eamon and Chrissy McKaigue who notched two points.

A Cathal Coleman put Portaferry ahead before they hit the net. Niall Milligan robbed Cormac O’Doherty before feeding Daithi Sands to give ‘keeper O’Doherty no chance from close range.

Shane McGuigan and Ruairí Ó Mianáin replied with two long range frees for the Derry champions who led 0-12 to 1-8 at the break.

Slaughtneil could’ve hit the net only for Shéa Cassidy to be denied by an excellent Smyth save.

Cathal Coleman hit an early second-half free for Portaferry who then survived a Rogers goal chance that came off the crossbar.

Rogers then spooned a goal chance wide after a goalmouth scramble and the sides remained level.

Cassidy added a free to edge the champions back in front but they passed up chances to stamp their authority on the game.

A fourth Fitzsimmons point had the sides level for an eighth time before Cassidy and Sé McGuigan helped put the Emmet’s into a 0-16 to 1-12 lead midway through the half.

Portaferry had a half goal chance that flashed wide as they began to refreshen up with players from the bench. Two Coleman frees pulled Portaferry back to within a point with eight minutes to go.

Gerald Bradley’s first action was to poke home a Slaughtneil goal to put them into a winning position, 1-18 to 1-14, and on the way to victory.

The Emmet’s now play St John’s in the final after their 3-20 to 0-12 win over Setanta on Saturday night in Owenbeg.

“It's the focus straight away, as soon as the final whistle goes,” O’Doherty said, looking ahead to another decider.

“We've got to get ourselves up for another titanic battle in two weeks' time, I've no doubt they (St john’s) were watching there.

“They've seen maybe where they can get at us, no doubt we'll turn our focus to them now, be ready for another massive battle because we know what will be coming.

“They'll be coming to win the trophy and that's what we're going for too and we've got to be ready for it.” 

Scorers for Slaughtneil: Shéa Cassidy 0-11 (10f), Shane McGuigan 0-3, G Bradley 1-0, R Ó Mianáin, Chrissy McKaigue, B Rogers 0-2 each, C O’Doherty 0-1f, Sé McGiugan and J McGuigan 0-1 each 

Scorers for Portaferry: C Coleman 0-10 (7f), D Sands 1-2, N Fitzsimmons 0-4, N Rogers and B Trainor 0-1 each 

SLAUGHTNEIL: O O’Doherty; F McEldowney, P McNeill, C McAllister; R Ó Mianáin, M McGrath, Shane McGuigan; C Ó Mianáin, Chrissy McKaigue; M McGuigan, Sé McGuigan, E Cassidy; B Rogers, C O’Doherty, Shéa Cassidy 

Subs: G Bradley for M McGuigan (48), J McGuigan for E Cassidy (56) 

PORTAFERRY: P Smyth; D Mallon, T Murray, R Smyth; B Traynor, C Taggart, C Milligan; M Conlan, S Conlan; N Fitzsimmons, F Turpin, C Coleman; E Sands, N Milligan, D Sands 

Subs: C Savage for C Milligan (41), N Rogers for S Conlan (46), C Smyth for Mallon (46), C Mageean for Fitzsimmons (57) Yellow card: S Conlan (41), T Murray (55), C Taggart (61), D Sands (63) 

Referee: C McDonald (Antrim)