SLAUGHTNEIL HAVE BECOME the first Derry club to win the Ulster senior hurling title with today’s 2-14 to 1-13 success over Loughgiel Shamrocks seeing them advance to the All-Ireland club semi-final next February against the Leinster champions.
Slaughtneil claimed aa brilliant win at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh this afternoon and atoned for their 2013 and 2015 final losses at the same stage in Ulster.
Three years ago they lost by five points to Loughgiel Shamrocks in the decider before being defeated after extra-time by Cushendall last year.
But those disappointments were erased with Slaughtneil’s historic victory today.
Their success is all the more impressive considering that they won the Derry senior football title last Sunday, completing three-in-a-row at that level.
After reaching the All-Ireland club football final last year, they face Fermanagh’s Derrygonnelly Harps at the quarter-final stage in Ulster next Sunday.
Slaughtneil got off to a terrific start with goals from Cormac O’Doherty and Brendan Rogers putting them in front 2-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes. Loughgiel fought back but by half-time they still trailed by seven points, 2-8 to 0-7.
A Joey Scullion goal for Loughgiel cut the deficit they faced to 2-11 to 1-9 with 14 minutes left. But Slaughtneil closed out the game in style with O’Doherty, who finished with 1-9, and Chrissy McKaigue, who struck 0-3, both to the fore.
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Great to see it, but you’d have to wonder at the relative health of Antrim hurling at the moment
Not so sure about Antrim hurling but Slaughtneil will put up a serious challenge in the All Ireland semi final. Loughgiel are a decent team but Slaughtneil have now beaten them and probably should have beaten Cushendall last year, a team that got to the All Ireland final. What odds on Slaughtneil doing an Ulster double with the football team a fine side too.
Wouldnt be so sure that they shoukd have beaten Cushendall last year now, but they most definetly are a strong outfit. At the game today and the intensity and speed the play at will be hard to match. Add in that they have a few proven matchwinners i could see them challenging this year
Congrats to Slaughneil- must be some parish!
Great stuff!