Report: O’Neill the Tyrone hero as the champions snatch victory in Derry

Ulster U20 FC quarter-final

Derry 0-12 Tyrone 1-11

By Michael McMullan

A STOPPAGE time goal from Conor O’Neill shot Tyrone to victory on Wednesday night at Find Insurance Celtic Park.

It capped off a fine second-half performance in a dramatic finish.

The Red Hands played second fiddle for much of the first-half, trailed by three at the break and had to win the game at the second attempt.

Points from Conall Higgins and Johnny McGuckian looked to have won the game for Derry.

Ulster U20 FC semi-final draw

With 90 seconds to go, Michael McNamee and captain Conor Devlin ferried the ball from defence. Conall Sheehy got hands on ball before O’Neill blasted to the net.

Derry had one more attack but when Enda Donaghy swatted the ball away, Tyrone built a move that led to Shea McDermott’s insurance point.

Tyrone played with the wind in the first half but Derry won the throw-in and played the opening spell on their own terms.

After a series of slow attacks, a Ger Dillon free opened the scoring and when Derry controlled the Red Hands’ kick-out, it helped them settle.

Cody Rocks and Dillon added points before Jamie Concannon fired over a first Tyrone score after 11 minutes.

Playmaker Johnny McGuckian started and finished a neat team score for a 0-4 to 0-1 lead before Ger Dillon had the ball over the bar again.

Derry goalkeeper Jack McCloy made a breathtaking save from Shea McDermott as Tyrone made a breakaway.

Concannon went off injured but not before he landed a two-pointer that was cancelled out when Dillon curled a two-point free off the ground.

Peter Colton kicked the final score of the half, another two-pointer, leaving Tyrone three down at the break, 0-8 to 0-5.

Rogers hit two points before a sharp visiting side pulled the game into their grasp.

Derry then began to play within themselves and went 14 minutes without a score but a more direct Tyrone staged the comeback.

Points from Muldoon, Colton and substitute Aodan Devlin had them level.

McGuckian and Conall Higgins ended the Derry famine and looked to have won the game until O’Neill hit the net.

Tyrone will play Donegal in next Wednesday’s semi-finals with Monaghan travelling to Armagh.

Scorers

Tyrone: C O’Neill 1-1, J Concannon, P Colton 0-3 (1tp) each and S McDermott 0-2 (1f), T Muldoon and A Quinn 0-1 each

Derry: G Dillon 0-6 (1tpf, 2f), T Rogers, J McGuckin 0-2 each and C Rocks 0-1

Tyrone: O Watson; S Broderick, M McNamee, L Neeson; J Concannon, C Devlin, B Gallagher; E Donaghy, C O’Neill, C Sheehy, L Hughes, T Muldoon; P Colton, D Donaghy S McDermott.
Subs: A Quinn for Concannon (INJ 30+3), A McGurren for D Donaghy (46), D Devlin for Muldoon (52), P Goodman for L Hughes (57)

Derry: J McCloy; R Small, P Haran, F McEldowney; C Spiers, L Grant, B McDaid, T Rogers, C McKaigue; C McCullagh, C Rocks, J McGuckian; C Hargan, C Higgins, G Dillon
Subs: D Doherty for Hargan (49), C Higgins for Rocks (57)

Referee: M Dorrian (Donegal)