however, in 1983 st canice's seniors bounced back. the battle for league honours developed into a three-horse race between glenullin, ballinderry and dungiven and it was obvious from the early stages that every point was vital. indeed, so keen was the competition that the placings were not decided until the very last game when dungiven defeated glenullin to clinch the title. in the championship semi-final dungiven left it very late to snatch the equaliser as the teams drew dungiven 1–07, bellaghy 0–10. in the replay at swatragh, dungiven outplayed the blues in all departments to win by a three-point margin, 0–08 to 0–05. st canice's were back in their second successive county final, this time facing the rossas, magherafelt at ballinscreen and in an amazing final snatched the title from magherafelt's grasp in the dying minutes of the game. at last a 32-year gap had been bridged and dungiven had won their third senior championship. in 1983 st canice's also won the reserve championship defeating ballinderry by 2–08 to 0–08 at ballinscreen – a unique double. this was the reserves' fourth success in six years. the under 16s played ballinderry at ballinscreen in the county final, winning by 3–04 to 3–03.