Bellaghy walk it

Bellaghy claimed their 18th Derry senior football title with a comfortable victory over Lavey at Celtic Park yesterday.

Despite dominating at midfield for long spells in the first half, Lavey struggled to contain a more determined Bellaghy side and needed a goal from a Gary Doyle penalty to keep them level at the break, 1-4 to 0-7.

The second half was all one-way traffic as Bellaghy scored at will, Gavin Diamond particularly accurate, scoring six frees.

When Karl Diamond goaled with 13 minutes remaining to put Bellaghy 1-11 to 1-4 ahead, the game was over as a contest.

In the closing minutes, Doyle missed with a second penalty before Fergal Rafferty goaled for Lavey with virtually the last kick of the game.

Bellaghy: K O'Neill; P Downey, D O'Neill, Peter Diamond; K Diamond (1-1), C McNally, Paul Diamond (0-1); D Quinn, J Mulholland (0-1); G Diamond (0 -6), B Lee, D Cassidy (0-1); E Cassidy (0-2), C Scullion, J Cassidy (0-1). Subs: L McPeake for C Scullion; C Diamond for Paul Diamond.

Lavey: M Hasson; F Scullion, K McCloy, B Scullion; H Downey, J McGurk, Ciaran McGurk; G Doyle (1-0), O Collins (0-1); G Cushnahan, B McCormick (0-2), M McCormick; Colm McGurk, S Downey (0-2), F Rafferty (1-0). Subs: P McVeigh for B

Scullion; P Scullion for Colm McGurk; D Doherty for H Downey.

Referee: A O'Neill (Banagher).