Magherafelt goalkeeper Odhran Lynch declared it "probably been too long" after his club secured a first Derry SFC title since 2019. Goals from Johnny Mc Erlain, Aidan Mc Cluskey and Cormac Murphy sealed a 3-17 to 0-20 victory over Newbridge at Celtic Park. The south Derry side, beaten in three finals since their last win, finally broke their hoodoo.
Lynch, who was 19 in the 2019 triumph over Glen, admitted the team had "been knocking on the door" four times since. He credited the victory to sticking at it despite recent setbacks. Magherafelt had been relegated the year after their last title but a new generation of young players brought a different buzz to the panel.
Lynch's return from hip surgery added a special narrative to the win. He missed over a year of football and credited club coach Gavin Devlin for daily lifting and rehab support during his recovery. Lynch has since played 13 or 14 games without being beaten, crediting the medical team for his fitness return.
The goalkeeper said having the right people looking after him made the triumph even better.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing