Rogers hails impact of 'steely character' McKaigue

McKaigue scored two points in Slaughtneil's win over Portaferry on Sunday

Slaughtneil's Brendan Rogers hailed the impact of Chrissy McKaigue, who returned to the Derry club's hurling fold this season.

Dual star McKaigue opted to concentrate solely on football in 2024, but was back to help Paul McCormack's side to a 13th-straight county title last month and was a key figure in Sunday's 1-23 to 1-18 Ulster semi-final win over Portaferry, chipping in with two points.

Rogers landed two of his own as Slaughtneil's bid to retain their provincial crown remains on course and, joking that he and McKaigue are now some of the club's "aul hands", paid tribute to the 36-year-old, who has been part of Slaughtneil's run of success from the start.

"We were probably disappointed he couldn't tog out for us last year," 31-year-old Rogers told BBC Sport NI.

"The experience and leadership he showed today by winning primary ball, riding a couple of tough tackles and didn't complain - it's good to have those steely characters. He's a good presence to have."

Slaughtneil produced a storming finish to deny Portaferry in last year's Ulster final and Sunday's semi-final rematch was another hard-fought affair.

With the Derry and Down champions on a collision course in the last four, Rogers felt there was "a wee bit of anticipation about playing Portaferry again" and was just happy to get over the line.

"You know it's going to be a physical and competitive game right until the end," he said.

"I'd say there wasn't much fancy stuff today, but it was solid hurling from both teams and good to get it over with.

"It's been a while since we played our county final, so to get a win over a team like that who only played a couple of weeks ago is good."

'Ulster final against St John's will be feisty'

Brendan Rogers is challenged by Caolan Taggart on Sunday

Next up is an Ulster final against Antrim champions St John's on Saturday, 29 November at the Athletic Grounds (18:00 GMT).

While Slaughtneil are preparing for a sixth-straight provincial final, it's new territory for the current St John's squad, who won the club's first game in Ulster for 52 years when beating Setanta in their semi-final on Saturday.

However, the Belfast club is not unfamiliar to Rogers who anticipates a "feisty game" to decide the destination of the Four Seasons Cup.

"It's a funny one, but that St John's team were winning Ulster minors around 2011, 2012 against us," Rogers recalled.

"I'm very familiar with the Johnston boys (Ciaran and Conor), Michial Dudley, Michael Bradley and boys like that.

"It's funny how you meet them again, further down the line, so it will be good to play against them again and no doubt it will be a feisty game."