It is understood the 24-year-old suffered the serious head wound during clashes between nationalist and loyalist youths in the town's interface at Leckagh and Sperrin Drive in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police were called to the flashpoint again on Saturday night after further disturbances were reported.

The man was taken to Antrim Area Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on Saturday.

A hospital spokeswoman last night described the man as stable.

Trouble flared after two groups of men threw stones and missiles at each other during the early morning confrontation.

It is believed the victim suffered his injuries after being struck on the head with a brick.

There are unconfirmed reports that a nationalist youth also suffered minor stab wounds during the incident.

Magherafelt SDLP councillor Jim Campbell has appealed for calm in the wake of the trouble.

He said: "First of all I would wish this young man a speedy recovery from his injuries. There have been three or four confrontations in this area already this year. This is what I have been fearful of, that things would get worse and someone would get hurt. Now it is serious and someone has been hospitalised and you never know what damage could be caused by this. I am concerned that we could get into a tit-for-tat scenario.

"Everyone is aware that there is a problem in this part of the town and something needs to be done to diffuse the situation. You just have to wonder what sparks these things off."

A police spokesperson said two men detained following the assault and disturbances in Magherafelt on Saturday morning have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

In the past 12 months there have been regular sectarian confrontations in the market town.

In July, Magherafelt District Council held a special emergency meeting to debate ways of ending sectarian tensions after a series of violent clashes between nationalist and loyalist youths.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a sectarian attack on two men in their early 20s in Portadown early on Saturday.

One of the men had to be taken to hospital following the incident in the Woodhouse Street area at about 1am.

As police attended the scene, fighting broke out between a crowd of up to 30 people gathered nearby.

A female police officer was injured as she tried to intervene.

Police officers have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.