‘It’s probably been too long’ – Lynch on Derry SFC win
Magherafelt beat Newbridge 3-17 to 0-20 at Celtic Park to win the Derry Senior Football Championship, ending Newbridge’s bid for a third consecutive title. It is Magherafelt’s first championship win since 2019, making the victory especially meaningful after the club lost three finals in the intervening years.
Goalkeeper Odhran Lynch said the team had “probably” waited too long to win again, after reaching a fourth final since their previous triumph. He was 19 when Magherafelt won in 2019, but later endured a relegation play-off and a long injury absence. Lynch returned after hip surgery and had played 13 or 14 games without defeat; he credited coach Gavin Devlin with supporting him through rehabilitation.
In short
- Magherafelt beat Newbridge 3-17 to 0-20.
- The club won its first Derry SFC title since 2019.
- Odhran Lynch returned after hip surgery and praised coach Gavin Devlin.
Explained simply
The Derry Senior Football Championship is a county competition for Gaelic football clubs in Derry. Magherafelt and Newbridge are two of the clubs competing for the title, with Newbridge having won the previous two championships.
Magherafelt last won in 2019 and had reached three finals since without lifting the trophy. Goalkeeper Odhran Lynch was part of that 2019 team and later returned from a long injury absence, with support from coach Gavin Devlin.