MAGHERAFELT BEAT NEWBRIDGE TO WIN DERRY FOOTBALL TITLE

Magherafelt beat Newbridge 3-17 to 0-20 at Celtic Park to win the Derry Senior Football Championship for the first time since 2019. Goals from Johnny McErlain, Aidan McCluskey and Cormac Murphy secured the John McLaughlin Cup for Magherafelt. The result ended Newbridge’s bid for a third successive title. The match repeated last year’s county final, which Newbridge won. Organisers moved the throw-in to 5pm because of Storm Boelo.

Newbridge led 0-7 to 0-4 midway through the first half before Magherafelt took a 0-13 to 0-7 lead into the break. Conall Higgins kicked three two-point scores with the wind behind Magherafelt in that half. McErlain then punched in a shot that had dropped short from McCluskey, extending Magherafelt’s lead to 12 points. Newbridge responded with an unanswered scoring run that included two-point efforts from captain Conor McAteer and Conor Doherty. The available tallies differ on Oisin Doherty’s contribution, putting it at 11 or 12 points.

McCluskey scored Magherafelt’s second goal after taking a long pass from Shane Heavron, restoring a six-point lead. Oisin Doherty’s late two-point free brought Newbridge within three points. Murphy scored Magherafelt’s third goal as Newbridge sought an equalising goal. Magherafelt will represent Derry in the Ulster Club Championship, with a quarter-final against Monaghan winners and reigning Ulster champions Scotstown scheduled for the weekend ending 8 November.