Conor Doherty says Newbridge have had their “eyes on the prize” in Ulster this 12 months as they booked their place within the semi-final with a six-point win over Madden in Armagh.

Final 12 months, the Derry champions fell on the first hurdle in opposition to the Orchard County’s representatives Clann Eireann, however having retained their county title, the ambitions for 2025 are larger.

Newbridge acquired the ball rolling with a preliminary spherical win over Dunloy final weekend and carried that momentum into the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

Though properly conscious the challenges will get harder, Doherty is completely happy to have a semi-final in opposition to Scotstown to stay up for on the weekend of twenty-two/23 November.

“In the event you had have advised us this in the beginning of the 12 months, we’d have taken the leg off you,” he advised BBC Sport NI.

“It is a competitors we have now an actual urge for food for and we’re actually completely happy to maintain shifting ahead in it.

“It was new territory for us final 12 months and form of shocked all people what we did, however I believe we had our eyes on the prize a bit earlier this 12 months after the celebrations.

“The sport (in opposition to Dunloy) stood to us and it was good to get the cobwebs dusted off. That was one other check and Scotstown might be a distinct animal once more.”