AIB All-Ireland Club SFC Semi-Final

SLAUGHTNEIL 0-12 ST VINCENT'S 0-10

By Orla Bannon at Pairc Esler

St Vincent's bid for a second AIB All-Ireland club SFC title in four years was shattered in sensational fashion by Slaughtneil in Pairc Esler.

Centre half-back Chrissy McKaigue was the inspirational driving force for the Derry and Ulster club champions.

He scored 0-4 from play – three more than the man he marked, Dublin star Diarmuid Connolly, all from distance in an immense display.

Of all the victories they've managed in hurling and football in the last three years, this was perhaps Slaughtneil's finest moment.

The Derry and Ulster champions were deserving winners as they advanced to a second All-Ireland final appearance in three years.

They played with a collective spirit and team ethic that left a fancied St Vincent's outfit trailing in their wake.

Slaughtneil outscored the Dublin champions by seven points to four in a gripping second half in Pairc Esler and confidently played out the clock, with Paul Bradley's injury-time free the insurance point.

McKaigue nailed three monster points with the wind in the second half, choosing his moments to drive forward, and just oozed determination. Each one of his four points, all from long-range, were memorable scores.

St Vincent's lost their discipline in the last quarter with black cards for Brendan Egan and Cormac Diamond, while Connolly and Ger Brennan were also booked in that spell.

Connolly had spells at full-forward against Brendan Rodgers but mostly at centre half forward against Chrissy McKaigue.

He found both to be tough customers, and most of the scoring damage in the opening half was done by Mayo's Enda Varley who scored two points from play and converted two frees.

Christopher Bradley scored the opening point for Slaughtneil after four minutes but Vincents had a good first quarter and led by 0-3 to 0-1, with Nathan Mullins and Connolly scoring from play.

An accomplished defensive spine has helped Slaughtneil to the top of the pile in Ulster, and they grew in confidence as they came to terms with Vincent's attacking strengths.

Chrissy McKaigue showed great leadership to surge forward, throwing off the tackles to shoot from 40m and his shot into a strong wind curled inside the far post.

Craig Wilson was the pick of the St Vincent's defenders and they got a lot of men behind the ball forcing Slaughtneil to shoot from distance, which they did with mixed success.

Five first-half wides and Paul Bradley's poor 25m free which dropped short were tempered with Christopher Bradley's tremendous left-footed point to tie the scores at five points each.

Varley dropped the shoulder and his left-footed point edged Vincent's back in front, 0-6 to 0-5, at the break.

Slaughtneil outscored St Vincent's by five points to one in a 13-minute spell after the interval, McKaigue with two points and Christopher Bradley and Shane McGuigan also finding their range.

Vincent's go-to men were being bottled up by Slaughtneil's well-drilled defence but Gavin Burke found the space and accuracy to score twice with his left foot.

Vincent's carved out the game's only goal chance with Varley flicking the ball towards goal but goalkeeper Anton McMullan dived to his left to turn the ball round the post.

Varley pointed his only score of the second half but Vincent's couldn't get back on level terms. Slaughtneil recycled possession with confidence to advance to the decider on St Patrick's Day.

**Scorers for Slaughtneil: **Chrissy McKaigue 0-4, Christopher Bradley 0-3, Shane McGuigan 0-3 (2f), Paul Bradley 0-2 (2f)

Scorers for St Vincent's: Enda Varley 0-5 (2f), Gavin Burke 0-2, Diarmuid Connolly, Nathan Mullins, Shane Carthy 0-1 each

**SLAUGHTNEIL: **Anton McMullan; Francis McEldowney, Brendan Rodgers, Karl McKaigue; Paul McNeill, Chrissy McKaigue, Keelan Feeney; Patsy Bradley, Padraig Cassidy; Shane McGuigan, Paul Bradley, Meehaul McGrath; Christopher Bradley, Se McGuigan, Cormac O'Doherty. Subs: Ronan Bradley for Se McGuigan (54), Barry McGuigan for K McKaigue (BC, 64)

ST VINCENT'S: Michael Savage; Michael Concarr, Jarlath Curley, Craig Wilson; Brendan Egan, Ger Brennan, Cameron Diamond; Nathan Mullins, Shane Carthy; Gavin Burke, Diarmuid Connolly, Cormac Diamond; Ruairi Trainor, Enda Varley, Tomas Quinn.** Subs: **Albert Martin for Trainor (46), Joe Feeney for Cormac Diamond (BC, 61), Kevin Golden for Cameron Diamond (67), Fiachra Breathnach for Mullins (58), Seamus McCusker for Egan (BC, 62)

REFEREE: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)