Newbridge beat Madden to reach Ulster Club semi

Newbridge are through to the Ulster Club SFC semi-final

Five points from Oisin Doherty helped Newbridge beat Madden 0-18 to 0-12 at the Athletic Grounds to reach the Ulster Club SFC semi-final.

The Derry champions were controlled in their performance and never looked like losing the game, as Conor McAteer turned in a captain's performance with four scores from play.

Newbridge led 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time with seven different players on target, while four scores without reply in the final 10 minutes sealed a comfortable victory.

Madden were appearing in the provincial arena for the first time after beating Cullyhanna to win their maiden Armagh title last month.

Newbridge were back in Ulster after capturing a second Derry title in a row, avenging last year's defeat at this stage to the Orchard representatives Clann Eireann.

It was Gary Hetherington's side's second game in this year's Ulster campaign after beating Antrim champions Dunloy in last week's preliminary round.

The south Derry club now advance to the last four and will face Scotstown on the weekend of 22/23 November, after the Monaghan champions earlier beat Donegal winners Naomh Conaill at Clones.

Newbridge show strength in numbers

Madden got the game's first score on four minutes, keeping possession for all but a few seconds of that time from the throw-in, with Donal Rafferty eventually firing over.

It took the Derry winners seven minutes to get off the mark as Conor McAteer and Mark McGrogan were both on target within seconds of each other.

Conor Grimley replied with a free before Newbridge hit three scores in a row, with Patrick McMullan shooting over the bar when opting not to go for goal despite being one on one with the goalkeeper.

Eamon and Sean Young added efforts before Conor Grimley landed a huge two-pointer off the outside of his right boot, his club's first score in 10 minutes.

Brothers Shane and Padraig McGrogan added two more scores before Grimley landed his second two-pointer, an almost identical effort, celebrating the second it left his boot.

Niall Smith and Oisin Doherty from a free rounded out the half with the Derry winners holding a slender one-point advantage.

Padraig McGrogan and two from McAteer got Newbridge off to a rapid second half start, stretching the lead out to four with 34 minutes on the clock.

Conor Grimley and substitute Paidi Comisky replied for the home county team but three more in row from McAteer, Doherty (free) and Young kept the visitors well in front.

Niall Grimley, who had a titanic tussle around the middle of the field with fellow county star Conor Doherty, got his first score of the game on 46 minutes, but Madden were restricted to just three points in the final quarter.

Eamon Young added Newbridge's fourth fisted point of the game either side of three Oisin Doherty scores.

Conor Grimley landed his third two-pointer of the game with the final action of the contest but it would prove to be in vain as the Derry men progressed to the Ulster semi-final in two weeks' time.

Madden: Jamie Sheridan; Shea Valley, Tony O'Hagan, Peter Lappin; Oisin O'Hara, Donal Rafferty (0-1), Niall Smith (0-1); Dylan Crilly, Cathal Donnelly; Aron McKenna, Ciaran Rafferty, Darragh McMullen; Joe Sheridan, Niall Grimley (0-1), Conor Grimley (0-8, 2f, 1x2ptf, 2x2pt).

Subs: Eoin Grimley for D Crilly (HT), Paidi Comisky (0-1) for A McKenna (36), Jack Murphy for C Donnelly (49), Liam Grimley for P Lappin (53)

Newbridge: Nathan Rocks; Shea McAteer, Shane McGrogan (0-1), Mark McGrogan (0-1); Callum McGrogan, Conor McGrogan, Padraig McGrogan (0-2, 1x45); Conor Doherty, Conleth McGrogan; Eamon Young (0-2), Mark Doherty, Conor McAteer (0-4); Patrick McMullan (0-1), Sean Young (0-2), Oisin Doherty (0-5, 4f).

Subs: Cathair McBride for M Doherty (57), Dessie McColgan for E Young (60) , Killian Burke for S McAteer (60), Odhran McGlone for P McMullan (63)

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)