Magherafelt goalkeeper Odhran Lynch says it has “probably been too long” after this club beat three-in-a-row chasing Newbridge to win a first Derry SFC title since 2019.
Goals from Johnny McErlain, Aidan McCluskey and Cormac Murphy sealed the 3-17 to 0-20 victory at Celtic Park.
The south Derry club were beaten in three finals since their last victory seven years ago, when Lynch was just 19 years of age in a victory over Glen, but he now savours the victories even more.
“It’s just nice to get back and it’s probably been too long,” Lynch told BBC Sport NI.
“We’ve been knocking on the door and that’s the fourth time coming into a final since we last won it.
“We just made everything hard for ourselves. We probably still made things hard for ourselves there today, but it’s just great to get over the line.”
Lynch admits, after winning the trophy as a teenager in 2019, that “you’re sitting there going and thinking we’re going to be there every year”.
“But the following year we’re in the relegation play-off.
“It’s just sticking at it. The young boys that have come through there have been awesome, they just bring a whole different buzz.”
Lynch has had his struggles with injury in recent season as he missed out on playing for both club and county Derry, which made the return to fitness and the successes even more special.
He also paid tribute to club coach Gavin Devlin, who aided his recovery off and on the field, even while guiding Louth to the All-Ireland semi-final as manager.
“It’s 363 days since I had the operation on the hip, so a year on Tuesday. It was well over a year before I got to play any football again. It’s unbelievable.
“I’ve played 13 or 14 games in a row. I haven’t been beat since I’ve come back thankfully, in the league or Championship.
“I was out of hospital and I was home three or four days. He [Devlin] was lifting me every day to go for a coffee and go to the gym to do rehab,” Lynch continued.
“I couldn’t even get in and out of the car really. He was lifting my leg in and out for me. That’s what he’s doing. He’s Louth manager and he’s a club man too.
“It’s just unbelievable, you have the right people there looking after you. It makes it even better when you win something.”
