2018 Derry Senior Football Championship

The 2018 Derry Senior Football Championship was the 95th edition of Derry GAA's premier gaelic football tournament for the sixteen senior clubs in Derry Football League Division 1. The winners received the John McLaughlin Cup.

2018 Derry Senior Football Championship
Tournament details
CountyDerry
Year2018
TrophyJohn McLaughlin Cup
Teams16
Defending champions Slaughtneil
Winners
ChampionsColeraine (2nd win)
ManagerSean McGoldrick
CaptainColm McGoldrick
Qualify forUlster Club SFC
Runners-up
Runners-upLavey
ManagerJohn Brennan
CaptainCailean O'Boyle
← 2017
2019 →

Coleraine won their second title, beating Lavey by 1-12 to 0-12 in the final at Celtic Park on 28 October 2018.

Slaughtneil were the defending champions, having won "4-in-a-row" by defeating Ballinascreen 4-12 to 1-11 in the final on 24 September 2017 in Celtic Park. They were beaten by 1-11 to 0-13 by Coleraine on 3 October 2018 in a quarter-final replay. This was their first defeat in the Derry senior championship since they lost to Lavey by 3-07 to 1-11 in a first round game on 16 August 2015. They subsequently progressed through the qualifier system to win the 2015 championship.

Competition format

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Current format

The senior championship reverted to straight knock-out in 2016 and the format continues with some minor alterations. If the score is level at the end of the normal sixty minutes, the match is replayed. If the replay is also level at the end of normal time, two ten minutes halves are played each way. At the end (or close to the end) of each round, a random draw is held to determine the fixtures in the next round.

In Derry, relegation or promotion within the league system determines which championship a club competes in – Division 1 teams compete in the senior championship, Division 2 teams in the intermediate championship and Division 3 teams in the junior championship.

2018 was the last year for this league format as the adult football leagues in Derry were restructured to Division 1A - 12 teams, Division 1B - 12 teams and Division 2 - 14 teams (previously there were 16 teams in Division 1, 14 teams in Division 2 and 8 teams in Division 3) for the start of the 2019 season.[1] Five teams were relegated from the 2018 Division 1 to the new 2019 Division 1B (see section 'Relegations and promotions in 2018' below for details). The 2019 senior championship was competed for by the top 15 teams in the 2018 Division 1 and Banagher, the winners of the 2018 Division 2. Claudy, who finished 16th in 2018, were relegated to the 2019 intermediate football championship.


Previous Formats

A back-door format was used from 2009 to 2015. Four initial ‘round-robin’ groups of four teams with the top two teams in each group progressing to the four knockout quarter-finals were used in seasons 2007 and 2008.

Recent history of relegations and promotions

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Relegations and promotions in 2018

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Five teams were relegated from the old Division 1 in 2018 to the new Division 1B in 2019.

  • Newbridge finished 12th with 12 points and played Banagher, the Division 2 winners, in a relegation/promotion match on 12 October 2018. Banagher won by 2-08 to 1-07 and were promoted to the new Division 1A. Newbridge were relegated to the new Division 1B.
  • Kilrea finished 13th with 12 points and were relegated to the new Division 1B
  • Greenlough finished 14th with 8 points and were relegated to the new Division 1B
  • Glenullin finished 15th with 5 points and were relegated to the new Division 1B
  • Claudy finished 16th with 3 points and were relegated to the new Division 1B

All the 2018 Division 1 teams except Claudy (who finished bottom) retained the right to play in the 2019 senior championship. Claudy's place was taken by Banagher, the winners of the 2018 Division 2.

Relegations and promotions in 2017

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  • After Division 1 football ended on 6 August 2017, Swatragh were 15th in the table with eight points and Banagher were 16th with six points. Swatragh were initially penalised three league points for not fielding against Coleraine which would have meant that Swatragh were relegated. The three point penalty was subsequently overturned and Banagher were relegated.
  • Newbridge won Division 2 in 2017 and were promoted to Division 1 and the senior championship for 2018.

Relegations and promotions in 2016

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  • Newbridge finished bottom (i.e. 16th) in Division 1 in 2016 and were relegated to Division 2.
  • Glenullin won Division 2 in 2016 and were promoted to Division 1 for 2017. They applied to compete in the 2016 senior championship and were allowed to do so.

Relegations and promotions in 2015

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  • Foreglen finished in the bottom two in Division 1 in 2015 and were relegated to Division 2 following their loss to Glenullin in the Division 1 relegation playoff.
  • Glenullin finished in the bottom two in Division 1 in 2015 and were relegated to Division 2 following their loss to Claudy in the Division 1/Division 2 relegation/promotion playoff. Glenullin successfully applied to be allowed to play in the 2016 senior football championship.
  • Greenlough won Division 2 in 2015 and were promoted to Division 1 for 2016.
  • Claudy finished second in Division 2 in 2015 and were promoted to Division 1 following their victory over Glenullin in the Division 1/Division 2 relegation/promotion playoff.

Senior Championship Draw

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The championship begins on Friday 7 September 2018. The draw for the first round was held on Tuesday 15 May 2018. Subsequent draws are held at the end (or very near the end) of every round. The bracket below can only be completed when the semi-final draw is announced.

First round Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals Final
21 October 2018
Slaughtneil 0-10
Magherafelt 0-05 Slaughtneil 0-15(d)
0-13(r)
Coleraine 2-10 Coleraine 1-12(d)
1-11(r)
Glenullin 0-12 Coleraine 1-11
Ballinascreen 2-10 Ballinascreen 0-09
Bellaghy 0-14 Ballinascreen 0-13
Greenlough 3-14 Greenlough 1-09
Newbridge 0-09 Coleraine 1-12
The Loup 1-12 Lavey 0-12
Claudy 0-14 The Loup 1-08(d)
1-17(r)
Lavey 0-11 Lavey 2-05(d)
2-15(r)
Dungiven 0-06 Lavey 2-11
Ballinderry 1-10 Glen 1-06
Kilrea 0-08 Ballinderry 0-17
Glen 1-15 Glen 1-15
Swatragh 0-13

First round

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7 September 2018
8:30 pm
First round
Coleraine 2-10 - 0-12 Glenullin Owenbeg
Attendance: 751
Referee: H Tohill
Colm McGoldrick (1-1), B Daly (1-0), N Holly (0-2), R Mooney (0-2), L McGoldrick (0-1), G McWilliams (0-1, 1f) M McTaggart (0-1) D O'Kane (0-11, 10f), B Mullan (0-1)

8 September 2018
2:00 pm
First round
The Loup 1-22 - 0-14 Claudy Swatragh
Referee: M Corrigan
A O'Neill (1-7, 3f), Ciaran Devlin (0-3, 2f), Caolan Devlin (0-3, 2f), G Mallon (0-2), D McVey (0-2), B Doyle (0-2) T O'Brien (0-1), P Coney (0-1), P Young (0-1) A Kerrigan (0-7, 3f), E McGahon (0-2), P Hargan (0-2), O Armstrong (0-2) B Carlin (0-1),

8 September 2018
6:00 pm
First round
Glen 1-15 - 0-13 Swatragh Owenbeg
Referee: B Quinn
E Bradley (0-6, 5f) E Mulholland (1-0), M Warnock (0-3, 2f), C McFaul (0-2), D Tallon (0-2), S O'Hara (0-2) F Kearney (0-8, 7f), J Kearney (0-1), C McAtamney (0-1, 45), B Diamond (0-1), N McAtamney (0-1), F McGurk (0-1)

8 September 2018
7:30 pm
First round
Ballinascreen 2-10 - 0-14 Bellaghy Owenbeg
Attendance: 3808
Referee: M McGeehan
Benny Heron (2-2), S Mulgrew (0-6, 6f) Brendan Herron (0-1), C McWilliams (0-1) F Donnelly (0-6, 5f), R McNally (0-3), D Cassidy (0-2), E Brown (0-2, 1f), L Spier (0-1)

9 September 2018
12:30 pm
First round
Greenlough 3-14 - 0-09 Newbridge Bellaghy
Referee: R O'Donoghue
E Lynn (1-9, 5f), M Bradley (1-0), C Diamond (1-0), B McCallion (0-2), J Kearney (0-1), S Bradley (0-1), N Bradley (0-1) P McGrogan (0-4, 3f), K Sweeney (0-2), M O'Neill (0-1), O McGlone (0-1), J Diamond (0-1)

9 September 2018
2:00 pm
First round
Ballinderry 1-10 - 0-08 Kilrea Bellaghy
Referee: M McAleese
C Gilligan (1-3, 1pen), R Bell (0-4, 3f), D McKinless (0-1), R Wilkinson (0-1). M McIver (0-1) J Kielt (0-7, 4f), E Rogers (0-1)

9 September 2018
6:00 pm
First round
Lavey 0-11 - 0-06 Dungiven Owenbeg
Referee: B Cassidy
Cailean O'Boyle (0-3, 3f), N Toner (0-3), Ciaron O'Boyle (0-2, 2f), C Mulholland (0-1), S Downey (0-1), D Hughes (0-1) D McGilligan (0-3, 3f), K Johnston (0-1), C Murphy (0-1), R Mullan (0-1)

9 September 2018
7:30 pm
First round
Slaughtneil 0-10 - 0-05 Magherafelt Owenbeg
Referee: D Harkin
Shane McGuigan (0-5, 2f), B Cassidy (0-2), Sé McGuigan (0-1), C Bradley (0-1), B McEldowney (0-1) S Heavron (0-4, 4f), J Young (0-1)

Quarter-finals

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An altercation involving Greenlough players, management and a supporter occurred on the pitch in the aftermath of Greenlough's quarter-final defeat to Ballinascreen. Referee Damien Harkin and one of his umpires were allegedly assaulted.[2]

22 September 2018
2.15pm
Quarter-Final
Ballinascreen 0-13 - 1-09 Greenlough Dungiven
Referee: Damien Harkin (Slaughtmanus)
S Mulgrew (0-7, 6f), Brendan Herron (0-2), Benny Heron (0-1) R Devlin (0-1), M McShane (0-1), C McWilliams (0-1) E Lynn (0-4, 1 '45, 1f), N Bradley (1-0), N Loughlin (0-2, 2f), C Diamond (0-1), E McNally (0-1), S Bradley (0-1)

22 September 2018
5.45pm
Quarter-Final
Glen 1-15 - 0-17 Ballinderry Owenbeg
Attendance: 3,400
Referee: Daniel Mullan (Glenullin)
E Bradley (0-6, 4f), D Tallon (1-2, 1f), M Warnock (0-4), C McFaul (0-1), C Convery (0-1) C Gilligan (0-7, 4f), R Bell (0-4), D Lawn (0-1), D McKinless (0-1), R Wilkinson (0-1), Aaron Mullan (0-1)

23 September 2018
2pm
Quarter-Final
Lavey 2-05 - 1-08 The Loup Ballinascreen
Referee: Mervyn McAleese (Drum)
A McGurk (1-2, 2f), E McGill (1-1), H McGurk (0-1), N Toner (0-1, 1f) B Doyle (1-1), A O'Neill (0-3, 2f), Caolan Devlin (0-2, 1f) Ciaran Devlin (0-1) C McVey (0-1)

23 September 2018
6:15pm
Quarter-Final
Slaughtneil 0-15 - 1-12 Coleraine Owenbeg
Attendance: 2,640
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy)
C Bradley (0-5, 3f), Shane McGuigan (0-3), B Cassidy (0-2), P Cassidy (0-2), J McGuigan (0-2), C McKaigue (0-1) L McGoldrick (1-1), G McWilliams (0-4, 3f), Colm McGoldrick (0-4, 3f), N Holly (0-2), R Carey (0-1)

27 September 2018
8pm
Quarter-Final
Replay
Lavey 2-15 - 1-17 The Loup Owenbeg
Attendance: 1534
Referee: Mark McGeehan (Ballinderry)
N Toner (2-4, 0-1p), K O'Neill (0-3), Ciaron O'Boyle (0-2, 2f), Cailean O'Boyle (0-2,2f), A McGurk (0-2), C Henry (0-1), C Murphy (0-1) Caolan Devlin (0-7, 2f) A O'Neill (0-6, 5f), J Rocks (1-0), B Doyle (0-2), Ciaran Devlin (0-1), C McGinley (0-1)

3 October 2018
8pm
Quarter-Final
Replay
Slaughtneil 0-13 - 1-11 Coleraine Owenbeg
Attendance: 3263
Referee: Dan Mullan (Glenullin)
B Cassidy (0-5), C Bradley (0-4, 2f 1 '45), Shane McGuigan (0-3, 1f), R Bradley (0-1) Colm McGoldrick (1-5, 4f), L McGoldrick (0-2), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-2) N Holly (0-1), B Daly (0-1)

Semi-finals

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7 October 2018
1pm
Semi-Final
Lavey 2-11 - 1-06 Glen Owenbeg
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy)
N Toner (0-4), D Hughes (1-0), E McGill (1-0), Ciaron O'Boyle (0-3, 3f), A McGurk (0-2, 1f), K O'Neill (0-1), Cailean O'Boyle (0-1, 1f) E Bradley (1-0), J Doherty (0-2), D Tallon (0-1, 1f), S O'Hara (0-1) C McFaul (0-1) M Warnock (0-1)

7 October 2018
2.45pm
Semi-Final
Coleraine 1-11 - 0-09 Ballinascreen Owenbeg
Attendance: 3785
Referee: Mervyn McAleese (Drum)
N Holly (1-0), G McWilliams (0-3, 2f), R Mooney (0-3), Colm McGoldrick (0-2, 2f), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-1), B McGoldrick (0-1), C Mullan (0-1) Benny Heron (0-3), S Mulgrew (0-2, 1f), M Bradley (0-1), P Bradley (0-1), S Woods (0-1), A Scullion (0-1)

Final

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21 October 2018
3:30 pm
Final
Coleraine 1-12 - 0-12 Lavey Páirc na gCeilteach
Attendance: 3700
Referee: Damien Harkin (Slaughtmanus)
Man of the Match: Liam McGoldrick
Colm McGoldrick (0-4, 4f), L McGoldrick (0-4, 2f), B Daly (1-0), G McWilliams (0-2, 1f), SL McGoldrick (0-1), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-1) Report Cailean O'Boyle (0-7, 6f), E McGill (0-1), A McGurk (0-1), N Toner (0-1), C Henry (0-1), L Murphy (0-1)

Top Scorers

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  • Updated 21 October 2018*
Rank Player Club Score Total
1 Colm McGoldrick Coleraine 2-16 22
2 Anthony O'Neill Loup 1-16 19
2 Niall Toner Lavey 2-13 19
4 Enda Lynn Greenlough 1-13 16
5 Shane Mulgrew Ballinascreen 0-15 15

References

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  1. ^ "Derry confirm changes to league and championship structures | Derry Now". Derry Now. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Match officials come under attack after Derry SFC quarter final". www.hoganstand.com.