Slaughtneil 0-11
Magherafelt 1-4

Slaughtneil regained the Derry senior football championship title this evening after seeing off holders Magherafelt in Bellaghy.

Chrissy McKaigue produced a ‘Man of the Match’ performance for the winners, whom recovered from the concession of a 41st minute goal by Jared Monaghan to grind out the four-point win in the rough conditions.

McKaigue's two points of the evening came early and moved Slaughtneil into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead and they wouldn’t relinquish their advantage, as Conor Kearns and Conor McAllister traded scores at either end to leave it at 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time.

Shane McGuigan and Francis McEldowney stretched the 2017 champions’ lead out to four early in the restart before Brendan Rogers made it five with a fisted point.

Those scores were erased in an instant when Monaghan cut through and rifled the ball to the roof of the Slaughtneil net.

Paul Bradley’s men never panicked however, as Christopher Bradley nailed a free and did the same again to cancel one out from Shane Heavron before McGuigan had them four to the good with seven minutes left.

Bradley fisted over what proved to be the insurance point minutes later to take the coveted John McLaughlin Cup back to Slaughtneil for the first time in three years.

Slaughtneil - A McMullan; P McNeill, B Rogers (0-1), C McAllister (0-1); F McEldowney (0-1), C McKaigue (0-2), K Feeney; P Bradley, P Cassidy; S Cassidy, C O’Doherty, M McGrath; C Bradley (0-3, 3f), S McGuigan (0-2), B Cassidy. Subs: P Kearney for C McAllister (HT), R Bradley (0-1) for S Cassidy (58mins).

Magherafelt - O Lynch; S McErlain, D O’Neill, G Lupari; C McCluskey (0-1), F Duffin, C Kearns (0-2); J Monaghan (1-0), D Heavron; P McLarnon, S Heavron (0-1,1f), J Young; M McEvoy, E McGuckin, R Ferris. Subs: P Quinn for D O’Neill (50mins), D Martin for G Lupari (55), A McElhone for R Ferris (59).

Ref: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy)

SLAUGHTNEIL SFC CHAMPIONS!
Shane McGuigan and Karl McKaigue lift the John McLaughlin Cup following Slaughtneil’s victory in today’s O’Neills Derry SFC Final. @GACSlaughtneil @ONeills1918 #WeAreDerry | #EveryMoment pic.twitter.com/EiFt27iw8X

— Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) October 4, 2020

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