THE semi-final pairings for Derry’s senior hurling championship will be cleared up on Sunday with the final set of group games down for decision.
All four games throw in at 2.30pm with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
Slaughtneil are again the frontrunners as they eye a 12th successive title. They are now under the watch of former Louth boss Paul McCormack, who took over from Michael McShane.
The Emmets visit Lavey already sure of their semi-final place and will take heart from how their newcomers have settled in to senior hurling.
They will be able to call on Meehaul McGrath, who played for the reserve footballers last week on his return from a summer in the US. Gerald Bradley hit two goals in their win over Banagher and they’ll be fancied to pick up another win.
Lavey’s long-term health was given a boost when their minor hurlers won a third successive title with an extra-time win over Slaughtneil in midweek.
To maintain their hopes of a senior semi-final spot they’ll have to do something nobody has been able to do since 2012 – beat Slaughtneil. It’s a tall order.
Even if Lavey do win, Banagher have their destiny in their own hands when they travel to a Ballinascreen team yet to pick up a win.
Paul Cleary’s equaliser – in a 1-5 tally – earned ‘Screen a draw with Lavey and they’ll know a win can book a semi-final if Lavey fail to overcome the champions.
In Group A, Swatragh and Kevin Lynch’s are level on three points after Niall Ferris secured a draw for Kevin Lynch’s in the opening game of the campaign.
Both teams are fancied to win against Na Magha and Coleraine respectively to ensure a passage to the semi-final.
First and second spot would them come down to scoring difference
The beaten senior semi-finalists will contest the intermediate final, while the teams finishing in third and fourth spots will enter the junior hurling semi-finals.
Round three (Sunday, 2.30pm, first-named teams at home)
Group A
Swatragh v Na Magha
Dungiven v Eoghan Rua
Group B
Lavey v Slaughtneil
Ballinascreen v Banagher
