By DARREN KELLY

SEVEN weeks since achieving back-to-back county titles for the first time ever, Loughrea now seek to atone for last year’s defeat at the same stage when they meet Derry’s Slaughtneil on Sunday in the All-Ireland Club senior hurling semi-final (Parnell Park, 1.30pm).

Their defeat to Dublin’s Na Fianna by just one point (0-17 to 0-16) still hurts in a game they led until the 57th minute.  Tommy Kelly’s charges will enter as slight favourites and extend their season beyond Christmas for the first time in 19 years.

The teams have never met before but back in 2007, Loughrea took down Antrim’s Cushendall to earn an appearance in Croke Park before Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks won on St. Patrick’s Day.

It took nearly two decades to think about national silverware again and potentially join the list of seven Galway clubs to win the Tommy Moore Cup. ‘The Town’ are back following a successful domestic championship that saw them time their run perfectly to remain Galway’s number one.

But before thoughts can turn to hurling in the New Year, they first must overcome one of the most progressive clubs in the country. Slaughtneil have dominated hurling in Derry (13 titles in-a-row) and have picked off six Ulster crowns since their breakthrough in 2017.

And they were also in this position last year, coming up just short to Cork’s Sarsfields (0-18 to 0-17). The south Derry team have never won an All-Ireland semi-final but have been getting closer every year.

Managed by Paul McCormack, Slaughtneil beat Na Magha, Kevin Lynch’s and Lavey to reach another Derry semi-final before getting past Swatragh (1-22 to 1-11).

Slaughtneil romped home (3-24 to 1-10) in the decider against Kevin Lynch’s. Down’s Portaferry provided a stern test five weeks ago before Slaughtneil came through 1-23 to 1-18.  And they left nothing to chance in the Ulster final, beating Belfast’s St. John’s 0-23 to 0-10.

After an injury to talisman Shea Cassidy who should be free for this fixture, Cormac O’Doherty produced a man of the match performance with 0-10  The versatile Derry star can play from half back to full forward which will give Loughrea plenty to think about.

Four players started this year’s Christy Ring Cup final defeat to London (Ruairí Ó Mianán, Meehaul McGrath, Cassidy and O’Doherty.

Keeper Oisin O’Doherty has Paul McNeill and McGrath as the defensive spine with Fionn McEldowney, Conor McAllister, Ó Mianán and Shane McGuigan outside them.

Derry under-20 Cathal Ó Mianán has been this year’s breakthrough performer and forms an interesting midfield partnership with dual star Chrissy McKaigue, who didn’t play last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Pictured: Loughrea’s Tiernan Killeen, in action against Mikey Fallon of Clarinbridge, will be central to their hopes of overcoming Slaughtneil of Derry in Sunday’s All-Ireland Club hurling semi-final at Parnell Park.