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Cormac O'Doherty (left - file photo) hit the winning point for Slaughtneil yesterday. Presseye/Kelvin Boyes/INPHO
Teenage Star

The 18 year-old who proved the match-winner in an All-Ireland senior football semi-final

18 year-old Cormac O’Doherty was the hero for south Derry club Slaughtneil.

ON THE DAY when Derry’s Slaughtneil carved a slice of history for themselves in reaching an All-Ireland senior final, it took the intervention of a teenager to see them through their semi-final hurdle.

Locked together with Austin Stacks in the closing stages of yesterday’s pulsating semi-final in O’Moore Park, 18 year-old Cormac O’Doherty stood up to nail a brilliant point from the left wing for the south Derry club. It was the priceless score that propels them towards the St Patrick’s Day club showpiece.

“Mickey gives us that wee bit of confidence, he always says, ‘if you have the ball, and the shot is on, have a go,” outlined O’Doherty afterwards. “Nobody is going to shout at you for having a go’. It’s nice. We worked it well, kept the ball well all day, and thankfully it fell to me there at the end.”

Had he ever scored a more important point in his fledgling Gaelic football career?

“No, I don’t think so,” laughed O’Doherty. “Not yet anyway. It’s nice to get the score but as I say it’s all about the team.”

O’Doherty was an unlikely hero for Slaughtneil. They won their first Derry title in a decade last autumn, before collecting a maiden Ulster football crown in November. O’Doherty had played a peripheral role but has gradually made an impact as the season progressed.

“I’m 18, I just finished school last year. I only really came into the setup, the quarter-final of the (Derry) championship was my first time in the squad. But, hey, you come in and it’s good to be involved with such a great team.

Christopher McKaigue Chrissy McKaigue celebrates Slaughtneil's victory. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

“I came on as a substitute in a couple of games. My first start was the Ulster semi-final against Clontibret. I started the three games since and just the confidence has rose since then.

“But there’s a lot of boys who have battled hard for Slaughtneil for the last 10 years and got no success. I’m lucky this year and I’m definitely going to enjoy it while I’m here.

“hat’s why everybody works so hard for Slaughtneil because you’re listening to them older boys. They’ve went through the heartbreaks and you can hear it in their voice, how much it kills them that they don’t have more success for Slaughtneil. While they’re still there, it’s nice to give them that wee bit of satisfaction.”

Kieran Donaghy produced this ferocious shoulder in today’s All-Ireland semi-final

O’Doherty the hero as Slaughtneil see off Austin Stacks to reach All-Ireland senior club final

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