Derry exit the All-Ireland series and finish the season without a win

All-Ireland SFC

Dublin 0-22 (0-2-18) Derry 0-20 (0-3-14)

By Michael McMullan

DERRY failed to beat the group of death and exited the All-Ireland race at the hands of Dublin on Saturday night in Páirc Esler.

It means the Oakleafers ended the season without a win and face into a Division Two promotion challenge next season.

The sides were level at half-time after Derry recovered from a rampant Dublin start.

The Dubs then pushed ahead, 0-20 to 0-15, with Brian Howard and Ciarán Kilkenny pulling the strings.

When late goal chances from Brendan Rogers and Lachlan Murray whizzed the wrong side of the posts, Derry’s chance of turning the tables was gone.

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne won the throw-in with O’Callaghan fisting over after just six seconds.

Before Derry got hands on the ball, Dublin were four up with Killian McGinnis, Cormac Costello and Paddy Small all on target in the first three minutes.

Derry settled with McGuigan making a point for Glass who was putting out fires everywhere for the Oakleafers.

Shane McGuigan was unerring on his shots with Paul Cassidy and Ethan Doherty also on target in a breathtaking first half.

McGuigan had Derry 0-8 to 0-6 ahead before Dublin roared back into the game with Paddy Small kicking a score as they went 0-11 to 0-8 ahead.

Derry needed goalkeeper McKinless to deny Seán MacMahon a goal as the play ebbed and flowed.

Glass – with support from Conor Doherty and Brendan Rogers – started to close the door and Derry were back level 0-11 each.

Costello kicked a two pointer to edge Dublin ahead before McGuigan did the same with the last kick of the first half to tie the game once again, 0-13 each.

O’Callaghan nicked the first score of the second half – a carbon copy of the first throw in but Derry won the next kick-out this time.

Toner and Bugler exchanged scores with Howard winning a vital kick-out and Dublin led again.

McGinnis doubled the lead with Galway also coming back into their game against Armagh in Cavan.

A turnover led to a Derry two-point free as the game ebbed and flowed but Paul Cassidy pulled it wide.

Lachlan Murray came off the bench and led to an Ethan Doherty point but it was soon cancelled out by a John small point after a Kilkenny possession off a Derry kick-out.

Kilkenny tagged on another score score for a 0-18 to 0-15 lead after 48 minutes with Bugler adding another.

Derry’s response was a McGuigan shot off the post as Dublin put Eoin Murchan and Cian Murphy into the fray.

Conor McCluskey came in as O’Callaghan’s fourth point stretched the gap to five points with 20 minutes to go.

Conor Glass replied with a much-needed Derry score as the rain began to pour down, Rob Finnerty hitting a goal for Galway to turn the heat up on the group.

Derry had a rare attack but Kilkenny managed to the take ball away from a Murray and McGuigan squeeze as the Dubs settled again.

A Conor Doherty breakaway led to a free and McGuigan made it a four-point game again.

Rogers found himself in on goal but pulled the shot across a crowded goal. It could have ended up anywhere.

Conor Doherty made a point for Ethan Doherty in the next attack ton leave three in it with eight to play.

At the other end, Ruairí Forbes hacked a goal chance off the line with O’Callaghan fisted over when the 45 came off the post.

Murray pulled another goal chance wide but a Loughlin mark gave Derry hope. Rogers added a point but when Cluxton found Nathan Doran with a kick-out, Dublin saw it out.

Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-10 (3 tpf, 3f), Ethan Doherty 0-3, Niall Loughlin (1m) Conor Glass 0-2 each, Brendan Rogers, Paul Cassidy, and Niall Toner 0-1 each
Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 0-5, Cormac Costello 0-4 (1tpf, 1f), Killian McGinnis 0-3, Paddy Small, Stephen Cluxton (tpf), Sean Bugler, Lee Gannon 0-2 each, Ciarán Kilkenny and John Small 0-1 each

DERRY: Ben McKinless, Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Patrick McGurk; Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Paudi McGrogan; Conor Glass, Dan Higgins; Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul; Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin, Niall Toner
Subs: Lachlan Murray for Toner (45), Conor McCluskey for McGurk (50), Ryan Mulholland for McFaul (59), Ruairí Forbes for Cassidy (62). Cahir McMonagle for Loughlin (68)

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Seán MacMahon, Theo Clancy, David Byrne; Lee Gannon, John Small, Brian Howard; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Bryne, Killian McGinnis; Niall Scully, Seán Bugler, Ciarán Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Con O’Callaghan, Cormac Costello
Subs: Eoin Murchan for McGinnis (49), Cian Murphy for Clancy (49), Ross McGarry for Scully (54), Tom Lahiff for Gannon (60), Nathan Doran for P Small (68)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)