U21 Football Championship

Swatragh 2-10 Bellaghy 2-09

Swatragh progressed to the quarter final of the south Derry U21 football championship with a thrilling victory under lights at Davitt Park. Both sides produced some tremendous football in a high quality encounter, with Swatragh full value for their victory.

The Davitts got off to the worst possible start when Bellaghy were awarded a penalty after some indecision in the Swatragh backline. The spot kick was duly tucked away, and Swatragh were already face with an uphill battle.

Swatragh got themselves back in the game with a couple of quick points, and began to gain control in midfield. However Bellaghy always looked threatening on the break. Both sides exchanged points in the next ten minutes with Michael McKenna notching a couple of fine points.

The Davitts almost took the lead soon after when a barnstorming run from half back Robert McWilliams was halted by a dubious tackle as he shot for goal. From the resulting move Bellaghy quickly moved play upfield and the centre-half forward was found unmarked on the edge of the square to claim the Wolfe Tones second goal.

It was a harsh six point reverse on Swatragh who could have found themselves two points ahead. However, the Davitts refused to be downhearted and scored an excellent point immediately to get back to within three points.

On the stroke of half time Bellaghy lost possession coming out of defence and a quick pass found Michael McKenna in acres of space and he fed Michael Kirkpatrick who finished to the net with ease.

It was a great effort from the Swatragh men to get back on terms, but they will also look back on several missed opportunities in the first period and will feel that they should have been leading at half time.

Half time Swatragh 1-06 Bellaghy 2-03

Swatragh began the second half on the front foot once again and moved into a three point lead with Eugene O’Kane & Liam Kearney amongst the scorers. The Davitts continued to dominate all over the park, with Cathal McQuillan mopping up anything loose at the back. However with ten minutes remaining in the match the Swatragh lead remained at three points.

The inevitable Bellaghy onslaught came and with the Wolfe Tones starting to get more of the breaking ball the Davitt backline began to come under intense pressure. The Swatragh defence was holding out well, forcing the Bellaghy men to shoot from distance but three tremendous long-range efforts brought them level as the game entered its final minute.

The referee indicated 4 minutes of added time, due in large part to an arm injury that forced the withdrawal of Sean McNicholl midway through the half. With Bellaghy in the ascendancy, the “Blues” were looking the more likely winners. However on a rare Swatragh sortie forward an incisive pass found Liam Kearney on the Swatragh left. Not for the first time in the match he skinned his marker, cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot to the top right hand corner.

This was to prove the clinching score for the Davitts and although Bellaghy were awarded a couple of soft frees to get within a point, Swatragh held on for a deserved victory.

This was a superb game played in great conditions under the excellent Swatragh floodlights. Both sides deserve great credit for serving up such an entertaining spectacle to the healthy crowd in attendance,

Swatragh now move on to the Quarterfinal and a meeting with either Desertmartin or Ballymaguigan.

Final Score: Swatragh 2-10 Bellaghy 2-09

Team & Scorers:
Michael O’Kane, Cathal McQuillan, Declan Kearney, Eugene McGuckin, Martin Dillon, Ryan Dillon, Robert McWilliams, Michael Friel, Sean McMaster, Eugene O’Kane (0-03), Sean McNicholl (0-01), Michael Kirkpatrick (1-02), Kieran Quinn, Michael McKenna (0-02), Liam Kearney (1-02).

Subs: Paul O’Kane for Kieran Quinn, Paddy McQuillan for Sean McNicholl (inj.)