AIB Ulster Club SFC: Newbridge finish strongly

AIB Ulster Club SFC Preliminary Round

Seán O'Leary's Newbridge 1-14 Dunloy Cuchullains 0-11

By Maghnus Dunne at Owenbeg

A late comeback from Newbridge earned them a huge victory over Dunloy in the opening round of the 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship at Owenbeg in Derry.

Conleth McGrogan and Óisin Doherty both struck late two-pointers which saw momentum swing late on in a game where Dunloy looked set to cause a huge upset and continue to make history once more.

The opening period saw both Óisin Doherty and Keelan Molloy exchange points from the dead ball as the sides tried to grow into the game in the early stages.

The first goal chance fell to the Derry champions after a great period of play which exhibited their sharp hand-passing ability.

However, Óisin Doherty's effort saved brilliantly by Chrissy McMahon in the Dunloy net pushing the strike onto the upright and the ball, despite ricocheting back towards the goal, was cleared by the visitors' defence.

Sean Young would point his first of the evening as he clipped an effort inside the upright before Reece Cunning led a counter attack which Keelan Molloy took advantage of to level the game in the early stages.

Conor Doherty saw white flags raised on two occassions after his efforts either side of Eoin O'Neill's free put the favourites back in front by the minimum on the 20th minute.

However, despite enjoying majority of the possession Dunloy would be the ones who ended the half stronger even though Doherty and Young both added a point apiece for Newbridge, their two score lead did not last long.

Dunloy rode their luck after Ryan McGarry's block prevented another goal bound effort allowing the Antrim men to truck forward as Keelan Molloy launched a terrific effort from far-out right for two, tying the game once more.

On the stroke of half-time the momentum would continue in the Antrim champions favour as Deaglan Smith provided a two-pointer of his own proving the difference at the interval.

After the restart, Molloy pointed another great score, just inside the arc but enough to give his side a three-point lead, but Mark McGrogan was on hand as he responded for the Bridge men.

Dunloy's poor decision making gave the Derry men an invitation to eat into the deficit. Óisin Doherty's free would be the first strike at the Dunloy lead, but the first goal of the game came shortly after when Callum McGrogan found himself in the right place at the right time as he punched the ball into the net and gifted his side an unlikely lead early in the second half.

Seaan Elliot's first score of the game was at a pivotal time for Dunloy as his right-footed effort floated over the black spot as the game was restored to parity once more.

Patrick McMullan's superb drive allowed Mark Doherty to sharp-shoot as Newbridge regained the advantage in the tie but Dunloy were not for giving up just yet. The Elliot brothers Seaan and Nigel linked up well with the latter bearing down on goal, the forward opted to try and assist Luke McFerran for the goal but the hand pass was overplayed and trickled out of play.

The Derry champions struck four points in quick succession when both Conleth McGrogan and Óisin Doherty's both landed two-pointers and when the latter also added a short-range free Newbridge's advantage stood at six.

Keelan Molloy's attempt to go for goal from a free was blocked and cleared and Newbridge prevailed.

The Armagh champions, Madden, await Newbridge in the next round which is scheduled to be played at the Athletic Grounds.

Scorers for Newbridge: Óisin Doherty 0-6 (4fs, 1 2pt), Sean Young 0-2, Conor Doherty 0-2, Mark McGrogan 0-1, Callum McGrogan 1-0, Mark Doherty 0-1, Conleth McGrogan 0-2 (2 pt)

Scorers for Dunloy: Keelan Molloy 0-6 (2fs, 1 2pt), Eoin O'Neill 0-1, Deaglan Smith 0-2 (2 pt), Ryan McGarry 0-1, Seann Elliot 0-1

Seán O'Leary's Newbridge: Nathan Rocks; Shea McAteer, Shane McGrogan, Mark McGrogan; Callum McGrogan, Conor McGrogan, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Doherty, Conleth McGrogan; Eamon Young, Mark Doherty, Conor McAteer (c); Patrick McMullan, Sean Young, Óisin Doherty

Subs: James Scully, Kevin McQuillan

Dunloy Cuchullains: Christopher McMahon; Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McGarry, Tom McFerran; Eoin McFerran, Deaglan Smith; Eoin O'Neill, Seaan Elliot, Conal Cunning; Luke McFerran, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliot.

Subs: Kevin McQuillan for L McFerran (59), James Scall for N Elliott (59).

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone).