Inside Track with John McIntyre

WHEN a Galway hurling team lines up against one from Derry – regardless of the grade – there is always a sweeping expectation that the squad representing the Oak Leaf county will amount to only cannon fodder, but the men from the parish of Slaughtneil are a different kettle of fish altogether.

Winners of six of the last nine Ulster titles, the Derry champions may still be chasing an elusive place in the All-Ireland club final, but they have come close on several occasions, notably against a Ballyhale Shamrocks team in their prime in January of 2020 and against Sarsfields of Cork 12 months ago.

That semi-final against Ballyhale in Newry was a cracking contest and Slaughtneil had the most successful club in the championship’s history on the ropes before a Colin Fennelly goal in stoppage time saw the Kilkenny men scramble home on a 2-24 to 2-19 scoreline.

Last year in Newbridge, Slaughtneil lost out by only a point (0-18 to 0-17) to Sarsfields, with Mark McGuigan spurning a great chance to carry the day for the Derry men, his rising shot from close range just going over the crossbar. The teams were level five times, and the Cork title holders were under pressure all through.

At the end of November, Slaughtneil easily retained their provincial crown with a 0-23 to 0-10 success over a defensive-minded Naomh Eoin of Antrim at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Cormac Doherty landed ten points (eight frees) for the winners, with Shéa Cassidy accounting for five more.

In their ranks is former Derry footballer Chrissy McKaigue while current county players Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan are also an integral part of a Slaugthneil outfit desperate to reach their first All-Ireland final. They are very experienced and won’t mind one iota that the venue for Sunday’s semi-final against Loughrea is Parnell Park.

It all means that the Galway champions should be braced for a mighty challenge only four days out from Christmas. What will stand to Loughrea, however, is the memory of last year’s near miss against Na Fianna at the same stage of the championship in Thurles. It was a match Tommy Kelly’s team looked in control of for long periods, only to be edged out on a 0-17 0-16 scoreline.

Pictured: The indomitable Nicola Ward of Kilkerrin-Clonberne breaking out of defence against St Ergnat’s Maria O’Neill during the All-Ireland Club Senior Ladies Football Final at Croke Park on Saturday. Photo: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.