Bradley’s late goal ensures Slaughtneil snatch dramatic win in Derry

Slaughtneil 1-8 Ballinderry 0-9

Ulster champions Ballinderry were dethroned by a last-minute goal as Slaughtneil claimed their second ever Derry championship title.

Gerald Bradley rose highest from Christopher Bradley’s last-gasp sideline ball to flick past goalkeeper Mickey Conlan, who couldn’t keep the ball from squirming over the line.

It put Slaughtneil in front for the first time in the game, but it would be hard to argue that they didn’t deserve at least a draw from a gritty encounter.

Patsy Bradley and Paudie McGuigan were taking some fine fetches and in terms of possession, the underdogs dominated against the breeze.

But they still found themselves three down at the break as the Shamrocks, on occasion, used the conditions to their advantage, with Conleith Gilligan firing over a 55-yard free.

Black card

The holders lost lost Aaron Devlin to a black card before Paul Bradley fired a gilt-edged goal chance wide from eight yards as Ballinderry went in at the interval 0-7 to 0-4 ahead.

The Shamrocks scored just twice in the second half, both of them frees, but for most of it they were able to keep Mickey Moran’s team at arm’s length.

They finally drew level with five minutes to play through a fourth Pádraig Kelly score that made it 0-8 apiece.

Collie Devlin looked to have broken their hearts for a fourth time in eight years when he put Ballinderry back in front but Gerald Bradley intervened in the dying seconds to snatch a stunning victory for the Emmets.

SLAUGHTNEIL: A McMullan; P Kearney, B Rogers, Francis McEldowney; K McKaigue, C McKaigue, B McGuigan; Patsy Bradley, P McGuigan; P Kelly (0-4, two frees), C Bradley (0-2), R Bradley; G Bradley (1-0), Paul Bradley (0-1, free), S McGuigan. Subs: C Cassidy for Kearney (h-t), C O'Doherty for S McGuigan (48 mins), P Cassidy for R Bradley (55 mins).

BALLINDERRY: M Conlan; R Scott, G McKinless, K McGuckin; R Wilson, C Nevin, D Lawn; J Conway, E Muldoon; R Wilkinson (0-2), C Devlin (0-3, frees), D McGuckin; A Devlin, R Bell, C Gilligan (0-3, frees). Subs: D McKinless (0-1) for A Devlin (BC 26 mins), M McIver for Lawn (46 mins), D Conway for R Wilkinson (57 )

Referee: A Campbell (Magherafelt)