Derry SFC Final

Glen 1-13 Magherafelt 0-7

By Michael Wilson at Celtic Park

Glen made it a hat-trick of Derry senior football titles thanks to dominant second half display against Magherafelt in front of 5,360 fans in Celtic Park on Sunday.

Malachy O'Rourke's never looked back after a Cathal Mulholland goal two minutes into the second period, easing away from Magherafelt to come home with plenty to spare in the end.

Magherafelt will look back on the firs half loss to injury of Derry keeper Odhran Lynch as a key moment, especially after an encouraging first 30 minutes, but when Glen went up a gear, the Rossas couldn't quite keep pace.

The champions started brightly with a lovely long range point from county man Ciaran McFaul, but Magherafelt were level within four minutes through a Shea McGuckin free.

Again Glen hit the front through a Eunan Mulholland point and while Cormac Murphy this time replied for Damian Barton's team, they had Conall Herron to thank for the ball not being in the back of their net after a contender for tackle of this or any other championship as he dived to stop Eunan Mulholland.

Magherafelt settled to forge three points ahead thanks to scores from All Star nominee Eoin McEvoy, a free from Shane Heavron and a lovely solo effort from Paddy McLarnon.

But, in between, Lynch, pulled up with what appeared a hamstring injury and they missed his contribution. Indeed the break in play had allowed Glen to regroup and three scores without replay meant the sides would go into half-time level.

It was evenly poised, but just as they had in the semi-final against Slaughtneil, Watty Graham's flew out of the traps at the start of the second period, hitting 1-1 inside two minutes to take charge. First Michael Warnock found Emmett Bradley who pointed before, seconds later, a goalmouth scramble broke perfectly for Cathal Mulholland to gleefully rolled home for a 1-5 to 0-5 lead.

Conor Glass and Shane Heavron swapped scores before Glen keeper Connlan Bradley went for a stroll that ended with him splitting the Magherafelt posts for a 1-10 to 0-07 with nine minutes to go.It was a Glen mountain Magherafelt were never going to scale.

As if to stress the gulf between the teams in the second half, Connor Carville came out of defence to take the list of Glen scorers to 10 for the day when Jack Doherty split the posts off the outside of his right boot. It summed up a brilliant second half from the champions who can now look forward to an Ulster date against Antrim champions Cargin.

Scorers for Glen: Cathal Mulholland 1-0, Eunan Mulholland and Emmett Bradley (2fs) 0-3 each, Ciaran McFaul, Conleth McGuckian, Conor Glass, Connlan Bradley, Connor Carville, Jack Doherty, and Danny Tallon (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Magherafelt: Shea McGuckin (2fs) and Shane Heavron (2fs) 0-2 each, Cormac Murphy, Paddy McLarnon, and Eoin McEvoy 0-1 each.

Glen: Connlan Bradley, Michael Warnock, Ryan Dougan, Connor Carville, Eunan Mulholland, Ciaran McFaul, Cathal Mulholland, Conor Glass, Emmett Bradley, Ethan Doherty, Jack Doherty, Conor Convery, Danny McDermott, Danny Tallon, Conleth McGuckian.

Subs: Tiarnan Flanagan for C Mulholland, 35mins; Jody McDermott for C Convery, 47mins; Stevie O'Hara for D Tallon, 59mins.

Magherafelt: Odhran Lynch, Simon McErlain, Johnny McErlain, Guiseppe Lupari, Conor McCluskey, Eoin McEvoy, Conall Heron, Danny Heavron, Dan Higgins, Shea McGuckin, Ryan Lennox, Paddy McLarnon, Cormac Murphy, Shane Heavron, Ronan Walls.

Subs: Conor McLarnon for E Lynch (inj), 25mins; Conor Kearns for R Walls, 36mins; James Murray for S McGuckin, 47mins; Emmett McGuckin for R Lennox, 55mins; Fergal Duffin for G Lupari, 56mins.

Referee: Benny Quinn.