Slaughtneil ease to Ulster club win over Derrygonnelly

Slaughtneil pair Patsy Bradley and Chrissy McKaigue tackle Derrygonnelly's Connall Jones

Slaughtneil began their defence of the Ulster club title with a 4-13 to 1-4 preliminary round hammering of Fermanagh side Derrgonnelly at Owenbeg.

Cormac O'Doherty and Christopher Bradley netted early for the Derry men but Derrygonnelly hit back with an opportunist goal from Paul Ward.

Bradley's second goal left Slaughtneil 3-3 to 1-3 ahead at the break.

Slaughtneil pulled clear and Derrygonnelly's Connall Jones was red-carded before Karl McKaigue netted.

In the quarter-finals, the Derry side will face Scotstown who clinched their county title on Sunday by seeing off Monaghan Harps.

In Sunday's preliminary round encounter, O'Doherty hit the net in the first minute and five minutes later Bradley added a second goal as Slaughtneil made a blistering start.

Ward found the found bottom corner with a quickly take free and Derrygonnelly stayed in touch until Bradley completed his double just before half-time.

Slaughtneil piled on the points on the restart and they were 3-8 to 1-4 in front when Jones was dismissed for two yellow cards.

McKaigue's three-pointer ensured a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals and the meeting with Scotstown.

What they said

Slaughtneil assistant manager John Joe Kearney: "We were impressive in the second half but no so in the first - we got them settled at half-time and we were much better.

"Christopher Bradley is getting back to his best after a foot injury and Karl McKaigue scored the goal of the game.

"We don't know much about Scotstown, we are going in blind as such but we will prepare as best we can."