At the half-time whistle,and the scoreline reading 3-3 to 1-3, there was some capacity for a tight contest to unfold for the rest of the game.
But the Derry, Ulster and All-Ireland champions were relentless in the second half and snuffed out the Derrygonnelly challenge by outscoring them 1-10 to 0-01 to impose solid daylight between the sides.
The Slaughtneil club are riding on the crest of a wave at present with a feast of titles across hurling, football and camogie divisions already lodged in the cabinet.
And they proved every ounce of that class today with two quick goals in the opening minutes courtesy of Cormac Doherty and Christopher Bradley laying the foundations for a massacre.
To Derrygonnelly's credit, they hit back with a goal of their own, but after trading points with Slaughtneil for the remainder of the half, they shipped a third goal just before the intermission to leave them at a respectable six point distance and little to no momentum for the second half.
Full time. It's been a very harsh lesson in football. A long journey home after a 4-13 to 1-4 defeat.
— Derrygonnelly Harps (@DgonnellyHarps) October 18, 2015
And that final blow proved to be the root of their demise as Slaughtneil ran on to carve out an insurmountable lead and book their place in the next round of the Ulster championship.
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