Report: Goals, saves and grit the keys as Derry bounce back from Ulster final defeat

All-Ireland MFC quarter-final

Derry 2-12
Roscommon 1-9

By Michael McMullan

GOALS from Rocco Devlin and Gabriel Gormley shot Derry through to another All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday night in Cavan.

The Oakleafers bounced back from their Ulster final defeat to Tyrone with a victory over Connacht champions Roscommon.

The Rossies were cold after a four-week lay-off. On the other hand, Derry had the grind of a win over Donegal and the pain of defeat.

It was a performance laced with skill and guts with Kieran Glackin’s side grabbing scores at the right times.

Analysis: Go long or short – kicking by numbers

Devlin’s goal was an absolute cracker to clinch victory with five minutes to go.

It was a victory built on winning 16 of the game’s first 20 kick-outs – from both ends – as the Oakleafers took root.

It shows the difference a week makes. In the third quarter of the Ulster final, Tyrone bossed midfield on the way to an unanswered 1-8 tally.

This time Derry were comfortable because they made themselves comfortable.

That said, they also needed the heroics of outstanding goalkeeper Michael Doherty and his array of saves on top of his kick-out variation.

Derry won the throw in and after a sustained spell of possession, Rocco Devlin’s pace saw him cut in to score the opening point after 90 seconds.

By the time Tadhg Bradley played in Lorcan Higgins for Derry’s second, the Rossies were off target at the other end.

In a cagey and slow first half, Derry controlled their own kick-out and won five of Roscommon’s nine.

Joshua Coyne nailed a 45 for the first Roscommon score after 12 minutes before Derry hit for goal.

It began with Tomás Devlin’s incisive backdoor cut with Gabriel Gormley palming home at the far post for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 22 minutes.

Opeoing the gap

Neil McDermott, Don Mulholland and Tadhg Bradley registered scores for a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead.

It could’ve been even more after a direct move when a Doherty kick-out was flicked over the top but Mulholland pulled his shot wide.

Derry won the throw-in at the start of the second half on the way to a second Lorcan Higgins score.

Their midfield control continued with Tomás Devlin then adding a point after a two-point free from goalkeeper Doherty broke loose in the Roscommon goalmouth.

A Rocco Devlin point put Derry into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead after 36 minutes before the Roscommon kickback.

The Connacht champions were off colour on their shooting and layoff left them playing second fiddle to a more battled hardened Derry.

A two pointer from Seán Duggan, with his first touch since coming off the bench, was a Roscommon glimmer of hope before they found the net seconds later.

Derry were turned over after securing a short kickout. Jayden Concannon was twice denied by the brilliance of goalkeeper Doherty but Derry failed to clear the danger. It allowed Seamie Carthy to square the ball for Concannon to flick to the net.

Derry’s response was the breaking of the game. Roscommon had the gap back to four but a two-point free from McDermott and a second Bradley point cancelled out the goal.

Roscommon battled away in the attempt to save the game with two-pointers all during the final quarter. Ronan Carr’s effort had the margin back to four but Tomás Devlin had another response.

Rocco Devlin raced through to bag a sensational second Derry goal with five minutes to go. On the flip side, Doherty made further saves to ensure Derry’s safe passage.

The Oakleafers now face Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final after the Rebels’ win over Meath.

Scorers for Derry: R Devlin 1-2, N McDermott 0-3 (1tpf), G Gormley 1-0, T Bradley, L Higgins 0-2 each, D Mulholland, T Devlin and J McCartney 0-1 each

Scorers for Roscommon: S Carthy 0-3 (1pt), J Concannon 1-0, R Carr, S Duggan 0-2tp each, C Nerney (f) and J Coyne (45) 0-1 each

DERRY: M Doherty; Dan McEldowney, C Sargent, D McKaigue; J McCartney, C Campbell, L Higgins; G Gormley, J Mullan; C O’Kane, D Mulholland, N McDermott; T Devlin, T Bradley, R Devlin
Subs: C McGuckin for Campbell (52), U McCloskey for Gormley (59), P McPeake for McDermott (62), T Scullion for McCartney (62), D Collins for Devlin (65)

ROSCOMMON: Z Mulally; D Kelliher, C Tighe, C Fitzgrerald; T Fallon, J Brooks, E Browne; J Lally, S Carty; R Carr, J Coyne, B Lenehan; C Nerney, J Jennings, J Concannon
Subs: Sean Duggan for Coyne (HT), J O’Brien for Jennings (36) A Martin for Nerney (36), D Goode for Lenehan (54), D Nerney for Browne (62), M McTeigue for Martin (65)

Referee: Eamonn English (Dublin)